Ask West Kelowna
COVID-19: Actions and service continuation
New: Starting Monday, Sept. 13, the Province of BC requires that vaccine cards be shown in non-essential recreational facilities. Please see the About vaccine cards at City facilities section below.
Continuing: Since Thursday, July 29 and until further notice Interior Health requires masks be worn in all indoor public spaces in the Central Okanagan for everyone 12 and older.
Stay home if you are sick! Sanitize or wash your hands upon entering and exiting facilities.
West Kelowna Council and staff express sincere thanks to the Westside for adhering to COVID-19 protocols and taking care to protect others and themselves.
For information Interior Health’s COVID-19 vaccination plans in our community, please visit their webpage news.interiorhealth.ca/news/covid-19-vaccines or call Interior Health at 1-877-740-7747.
Let’s continue to stand together to keep seniors, rec users, our families and ourselves healthy and safe and our businesses in operation.
Attending recreation programs/events, proof of vaccine requirements
Please respect our staff as they must follow these specific requirements:
- Adults 22 years of age and up are required to show their BC Vaccine Card and provincial government photo ID to access City recreation facilities
- Including all indoor areas such as lobbies, lounges, program rooms, gyms, fitness studios, pools, and rinks
- Youth spectators 12 to 21 years will be required to show their BC Vaccine Card; no provincial photo ID is needed
Exceptions to the vaccination card rule include:
- Children ages 11 and under
- Recreation participants ages 12 to 21 years
- Those participating in youth sport (21 years or age and younger) for practice or training, including essential personnel (coaches, volunteers, teachers, instructors, and referees)
For recreational programming, check out the 2021 Fall Rec Guide.
Visiting Municipal Hall
The BC Vaccine Card does not apply if visiting City Hall.
Here is a summary of the evolving actions the City is taking to support the community through COVID-19:
- Stay home if you're sick.
- Wear masks; non-medical or medical masks, covering the nose and mouth in all City-operated facilities including access to Municipal Hall, Public Works, Recreation and any other City facility opened to the public; masks are required in indoor public places for all people 12 and older.
- Sanitize or wash your hands upon entering and exiting our facilities.
- Conduct as much City business as possible online through our website, phone, email or other digital services.
- View Council meetings live at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts or the next day through Webcast Archives.
- In accordance with COVID-19 protocols, West Kelowna Council meetings will accommodate three members of the public on a first come, first serve basis. The City continues to encourage the public to watch Council Meetings via live stream at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts.
A list of all City facilities and the provincial requirements are noted below.
| Vaccine cards required |
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| Vaccine cards not required |
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| By age - vaccine cards |
Exceptions to the vaccination card rule include:
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| By facility - vaccine cards |
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Required at:
Not required at:
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| Exemptions at City facilities |
The following people are exempt from showing proof of vaccination in recreational facilities:
You don't have to show proof of vaccination at places like:
Recreational facility users who do not need to show proof of vaccination are:
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About
| About vaccine cards at City facilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| About public responsibilities at City facilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By order of the Provincial Health Officer, proof of vaccination is required to access some events, services and businesses. Starting September 13, you must have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
By October 24, the Province of BC requires that you must be fully vaccinated. The requirement is in place until January 31, 2022 and could be extended. The requirement applies to all people born in 2009 or earlier (12-plus) and covers the following City of West Kelowna recreational activities:
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| About rec operators and their responsibilities at City facilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Any organization that has booked use of City of West Kelowna recreation facilities is required to follow all Public Health Order guidelines as per their rental agreements, this includes the submission of a COVID-19 Safe Operating Plan. They must monitor their participants and patrons; including how their programs and events will continue to comply with all Provincial Health Orders including mask mandates and proof of vaccinations. Operators have a shared responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that fans, participants, staff and volunteers are in a healthy and safe environment. |
Questions and Answers
| How the City is monitoring and adapting |
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Why is the City requiring me to wear a mask and provide proof of vaccination? City staff follow provincial health guidelines; we have a shared responsibility to guard the health and safety of customers, participants and our greater community from the spread of COVID-19. By following safe operating procedures, we demonstrate through action our concerns for our community including vulnerable populations such as seniors and we ensure that our facilities can remain open for the physical and mental well being of our community We have continued to adjust and adapt throughout the pandemic to close facilities as required and we work at all other times to ensure the safe operation and continued services whenever possible. What if I refuse to wear a mask or show proof of vaccination? We appeal to your respect for our programs users, other spectators and staff and ask that you share in our common goal of ensuring everyone's health and safety. If you choose not to wear a mask or refuse proof of vaccination, you cannot enter the facilities that it applies to as it creates risks to others. The City has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to abuse, harassment, harm and hate; authorities will be contacted to deal with these matters. We ask that the public be kind and help one another. When can I expect the mask rules and proof of vaccination requirements to change? The City of West Kelowna complies with all Provincial Health Orders and mandates and we will update our safe operating procedures whenever health guidelines change. Who can people contact for more information? Call our Recreation Department staff for more information at 778-797-8800. |
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: Anyone exposed to, or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, should contact their primary care provider or call 8-1-1. |
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