Ask West Kelowna
Let’s keep each other healthy and safe
Preventing COVID-19 and other communicable diseases
Update: April 8, 2022
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases:
- Stay home if you are sick
- Wash or sanitize your hands before entering and when leaving facilities
- Sneeze or cough into your elbow
- Conduct as much City business as possible online through our website, phone, email or other digital services.
- View Council meetings and Public Hearings live at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts or the next day through Webcast Archives.
- Respect personal space and be accepting of those who wish to continue to wear masks
- Find additional provincial guidelines and advice at gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions
Thank you for doing your part to protect our community. Let’s continue to work together to keep our seniors, rec users, families and ourselves healthy and safe and our businesses and civic facilities in operation.
The City of West Kelowna will continue to comply with all provincial health guidelines and orders. In the event of any discrepancies between the information on the City’s website and provincial regulations, the Province of BC guidelines and orders will take precedence. Contact BC’s Health Ministry with all questions or concerns regarding guidelines, orders and restrictions
Proof of Vaccination
As of April 8, 2022, proof of vaccination is no longer required, under Public Health Orders, to access businesses, events and services.
Individual businesses and private event organizers, including those who rent our facilities to host their own functions, may choose to require proof of vaccination. However, in keeping with Provincial Health Orders, the City of West Kelowna does not require proof of vaccination to enter our facilities for civic functions, to attend our meetings, to access our services or to participate in our recreational and leisure programs and activities.
A COVID-19 Vaccination Policy remains in effect for City of West Kelowna employees.
Non-employee supervisors, coaches and assistants of indoor sports and group activities for people 21 years or younger must be fully vaccinated.
Federal proof of vaccination is still required for federally regulated travel, like air transportation.
Masks
Public health orders no longer require wearing masks indoors as of March 11, 2022.
Masks are encouraged on public transit, but not required.
Individual businesses and event organizers can choose to continue requiring masks on their premises. Please respect the choices of people, businesses and one another.
Individual businesses and private event organizers, including those who rent our facilities to host their own functions, may choose to require masks. However, in keeping with Provincial Health Orders, the City of West Kelowna does not require masks to be in our facilities for civic functions, to attend our meetings, to access our services or to participate in our recreational and leisure programs and activities.
For 14 days following entry into Canada, you and any children who travelled with you must wear masks indoors. Learn more on the Health Canada website.
You must wear a mask in all health care settings, like vaccine clinics and hospitals.
See below for a list of City facilities and the corresponding provincial requirements.
| Proof of vaccination – no longer required, by location |
City owned and operated facilities and amenities
City facilities where a contractor provides the services
Non-City facilities of note
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| Vaccinations – when still required |
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A COVID-19 Vaccination Policy applies to all City of West Kelowna employees. Non-employee supervisors, coaches and assistants of indoor sports and group activities for people 21 years or younger must be fully vaccinated. Federal proof of vaccination is still required for federally regulated travel, like air transportation. Some private businesses and event organizers, who rent City of West Kelowna facilities, may choose to require proof of vaccination to attend their functions. |
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Wearing masks – when encouraged, when not-required and when required |
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Encouraged or optional Masks are encouraged on public transit, but not required. Individual businesses and event organizers can choose to continue requiring masks on their premises. Please respect the choices of people, businesses and one another. Not-required Public health orders no longer require wearing masks indoors as of March 11, 2022. In keeping with Provincial Health Orders, the City of West Kelowna does not require masks to enter our facilities, to attend our meetings, to access our services or to participate in our recreational and leisure programs and activities. However, some private businesses and event organizers, who rent our facilities, may choose to require masks at their functions. Required For 14 days following entry into Canada, you and any children who travelled with you must wear masks indoors. Learn more on the Health Canada website. You must wear a mask in all health care settings, like vaccine clinics and hospitals. |
Learn more
| About operators, participants and spectators’ responsibilities at City facilities |
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Health and safety come first; and, we all have a shared responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases and ensure that we, as fans, operators, participants, staff and volunteers are in a healthy and safe environment. We must all:
City of West Kelowna staff will work with operators to achieve these goals. Rules and regulations are evolving and may be subject to change in the future. Organizations that book City recreation facilities must check with booking staff and, whenever required, follow all COVID-19 protocols, Interior Health restrictions and COVID-19 Safety Plans. Operators must monitor their participants and patrons; including how their programs and events will continue to comply with all City safe operating procedures and Provincial Health Orders. |
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Questions and answers |
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Why is the City no longer requiring people to wear masks or provide full proof of vaccination? City staff follow Provincial Health Orders and Interior Health guidelines, which no longer require masks indoors, as of March 11 and, which no longer require proof of vaccinations, as of April 8. We put health and safety first; and, we will continue to adjust and adapt, as Provincial Health Orders, guidelines and restrictions change. We have opened and closed facilities as required; and, we work at all other times to ensure safe operations and continued services, whenever possible. Are City staff required to be fully vaccinated? Yes. On Oct. 27, the City of West Kelowna announced a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, which required proof of vaccination for all City employees by Jan. 4, 2022. The intent of this policy is to help protect employees and the community, and further enables the City to safely and effectively deliver services to its citizens. Together with surrounding municipalities such as the cities of Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops, and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, the implementation of this policy allowed sufficient time for City staff who had not been fully vaccinated to receive Health Canada approved COVID-19 first and second doses prior to Jan. 4. The policy applies to all City employees, regardless of work location. May the City of West Kelowna require additional protocols and safety procedures beyond provincial health orders for the safety of staff and customers? Yes. We may sometimes require further safe operating procedures in addition to Provincial and Interior Health Orders and WorkSafe BC requirements. What are some examples of additional protocols? For Council meetings, for example, due to space limitations, the City continues to encourage the public to watch Council Meetings via live stream at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts. For public hearings, also for space limitations, we encourage people to watch via live stream and we can provide the opportunity for people to call in during public hearings to 778-797-2250 to present their views, rather than attend in person. We also encourage people to conduct as much City business as possible online through our website, phone, email or other digital services:
Whom else can I contact for more information?
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Stay connected
| Stay connected with us |
| Sign up at westkelownacity.ca/subscribe to receive City news, alerts and updates directly to your inbox or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. |
| Public Health - Where to get COVID-19 information |
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As we move forward, we all must ensure we are reading and seeking accurate, reliable information about the COVID-19 situation and how we should all respond. Please use trusted sources such as the BC Centre for Disease Control, IHA, the B.C. Ministry of Health, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada has set up a COVID-19 information telephone line at 1-833-784-4397. Anyone exposed to, or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, should contact their primary care provider or call 8-1-1. |
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