COVID-19

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, in Edmonton on Wednesday Nov. 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Kenney set to announce end date of Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccine passport next week

Alberta also to unveil a plan that will see it remove almost all restrictions by month’s end

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, in Edmonton on Wednesday Nov. 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. (File photo: Black Press Media)

B.C. woman sues Ducks Unlimited after being fired over COVID-19 vaccine policy

On Oct. 1, she raised her concerns about the policy and on Oct. 14 she was fired for failing to comply

B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. (File photo: Black Press Media)
A group of vaccine mandate demonstrators make their way up Highway 14 to the Evergreen Centre Wednesday afternoon in response to SD62’s newly announced vaccine requirement. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Demonstrators take to Sooke streets against pandemic-driven mandates

Wednesday event organized in response to impending SD62 staff vaccination/testing requirement

A group of vaccine mandate demonstrators make their way up Highway 14 to the Evergreen Centre Wednesday afternoon in response to SD62’s newly announced vaccine requirement. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Thousands fill the grounds of the B.C. legislature Saturday afternoon for a demonstration against pandemic-related mandates in front of the B.C. Legislature. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Thousands gather at B.C. legislature against pandemic mandates

Saturday’s event was co-organized by We Unite Canada and the Victoria BC Convoy for Freedom

Thousands fill the grounds of the B.C. legislature Saturday afternoon for a demonstration against pandemic-related mandates in front of the B.C. Legislature. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
School District 85 logo

North Island teacher’s union president talks functional closures and why they happen

School District 85 is still struggling to hire teachers in remote and rural areas

School District 85 logo
Late 2021 saw the number of restaurant reservations and take-out orders in B.C. soar like there’d never been a pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)

British Columbians were back to restaurants in pre-pandemic numbers in late 2021

Survey finds Labour Day weekend busier than 2019, giving operators optimism for 2022

Late 2021 saw the number of restaurant reservations and take-out orders in B.C. soar like there’d never been a pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)
BC Transit is experiencing COVID-driven labour shortages across Greater Victoria, resulting in cancellations on some bus routes. (Black Press Media file photo)

BC Transit acknowledges COVID-19 cases are impacting staffing in Greater Victoria

Riders can anticipate possibility of further short-notice cancellations of specific departure times

BC Transit is experiencing COVID-driven labour shortages across Greater Victoria, resulting in cancellations on some bus routes. (Black Press Media file photo)
A group of demonstrators show their support for the Freedom Convoy Wednesday afternoon in Sooke. The convoy is a cross-Canada demonstration by truck drivers against government mandates introduced during the pandemic, including a requirement that truck drivers crossing a border must show proof of vaccination.

Dozens show support for ‘Freedom Convoy’ in downtown Sooke

The convoy is demonstrating against government vaccination mandates

A group of demonstrators show their support for the Freedom Convoy Wednesday afternoon in Sooke. The convoy is a cross-Canada demonstration by truck drivers against government mandates introduced during the pandemic, including a requirement that truck drivers crossing a border must show proof of vaccination.
Dave Eberwein, superintendent of schools for School District 63, says the district is not reporting COVID-19 cases on school-by-school basis because it does not receive that information, as per new protocols designed in response to the Omicron variant. (Google Streetview)

Saanich School District monitors absentee levels; no school close to functional closure

SD63 does not have school-specific COVID case numbers, superintendent says

Dave Eberwein, superintendent of schools for School District 63, says the district is not reporting COVID-19 cases on school-by-school basis because it does not receive that information, as per new protocols designed in response to the Omicron variant. (Google Streetview)
Laura McIntyre and her three kids are once again facing homelessness after their recently crowdfunded new trailer suffered a fire, and she contracted COVID-19. (Photo Courtesy of Laura McIntyre) (Photo Courtesy of Laura McIntyre)

Single Langford mom of three facing homelessness once again after trailer fire

Laura McIntyre also tested positive for COVID the day before the fire

Laura McIntyre and her three kids are once again facing homelessness after their recently crowdfunded new trailer suffered a fire, and she contracted COVID-19. (Photo Courtesy of Laura McIntyre) (Photo Courtesy of Laura McIntyre)
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the B.C. legislature Saturday to protest government mandates introduced during the pandemic. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

UPDATE: Hundreds gather at B.C. legislature for rally against pandemic restrictions

The event was organized by the B.C. Businesses Against Health Pass Facebook page

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the B.C. legislature Saturday to protest government mandates introduced during the pandemic. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Arrowsmith Lodge. (File photo)

Island Health reports COVID-19 outbreak at Parksville longterm care facility

Two resident cases identified related to outbreak at Arrowsmith Lodge

Arrowsmith Lodge. (File photo)
In this Tuesday, June 12, 2018, photo, trucks cross the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor, Ont. into Detroit. Turmoil and confusion last week over whether truckers would remain exempt from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate followed misinterpretations of regulations by both the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Paul Sancya

Public Health Agency of Canada involved in ‘error’ on trucker vaccine rules: sources

Government provided no more explanation for the botched messaging

In this Tuesday, June 12, 2018, photo, trucks cross the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor, Ont. into Detroit. Turmoil and confusion last week over whether truckers would remain exempt from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate followed misinterpretations of regulations by both the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Paul Sancya
(The Canadian Press/Tijana Martin)

Patients with COVID in Fraser Health may now share hospital rooms with uninfected

Public health officials say hospital space is at a premium

(The Canadian Press/Tijana Martin)
Renee Monson receives her COVID-19 booster shot from nurse Scott Renmer during a vaccination clinic on Thursday at SEAPARC Leisure Complex in Sooke. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke booster clinic jabbing 200 arms a day

COVID vaccination clinic has been running smoothly in its first week

Renee Monson receives her COVID-19 booster shot from nurse Scott Renmer during a vaccination clinic on Thursday at SEAPARC Leisure Complex in Sooke. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)
North Island Secondary School in Port McNeill. (Gazette file photo)

Northern Vancouver Island high school announces ‘functional closure’

‘This closure is due to the shortage of staff and the inability to cover these staff shortages’

North Island Secondary School in Port McNeill. (Gazette file photo)
A rally in support of gyms and other fitness businesses reopening at Robert Ostler Park in downtown Campbell River on Jan. 18, 2022. Photo by Sean Feagan / Campbell River Mirror.

Rally for local fitness companies held in Campbell River

Event coincided with provincial announcement of phased reopening for fitness

A rally in support of gyms and other fitness businesses reopening at Robert Ostler Park in downtown Campbell River on Jan. 18, 2022. Photo by Sean Feagan / Campbell River Mirror.
Jim’s Gym in Parksville has closed its doors for good. (PQB News File Photo)

COVID-19: Popular Parksville gym closes its doors after more than a decade in city

Owners decide to cut their losses due to uncertainty brought on by pandemic

Jim’s Gym in Parksville has closed its doors for good. (PQB News File Photo)
School District 69 (Qualicum) superintendent Peter Jory visits the PQB News/VI Daily studios. (Peter McCully photo)

PQBeat: Talking 2022 with Peter Jory, superintendent for School District 69 (Qualicum)

Podcast: COVID-19 updates, snow days, facilities planning

School District 69 (Qualicum) superintendent Peter Jory visits the PQB News/VI Daily studios. (Peter McCully photo)
Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital is one of five sites to have newly declared COVID outbreaks, according to Island Health. (Black Press Media file photo)

Five new COVID outbreaks declared by Island Health

The health authority also announced three previous outbreaks had ended on Saturday

Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital is one of five sites to have newly declared COVID outbreaks, according to Island Health. (Black Press Media file photo)