Updated December 21 at 2:05pm (scroll to bottom for latest)
This afternoon at 1:00pm the Government of BC announced new holiday restrictions in BC due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
New BC Restrictions due to COVID Omicron Variant Over the Holidays
To address rising COVID-19 case counts and keep people safe, the provincial health officer is issuing revised orders, which take effect on Monday, December 20, 2021
Measures will extend to January 31, 2022, at 11:59pm, and include:
limiting indoor, personal gatherings, including in rental and vacation properties to the household/residents plus 10 individuals, or one additional household maximum if all are aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated;
requiring the BC Vaccine Card for organized events of all sizes and ensuring the QR code is scanned at events;
seating requirements and restricting movement between tables at food and liquor-serving premises, and reinforcing the need to wear masks when not seated;
limiting venues of 1,000 individuals or more to 50% of the seated capacity with reinforced masking requirements and scanning of the BC Vaccine Card QR code;
pausing all sports tournaments while the order is in effect; and
all New Year’s Eve organized gatherings and events will be restricted to being seated-only events, with no mingling or dancing allowed.
The provincial health officer is also emphasizing the need for retail stores to have COVID-19 safety plans in place for holiday and Boxing Day sales.
“These measures will help us to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the ones we care about,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Slowing the spread and keeping each other safe is a cause in which we are all connected. It’s that togetherness that will get all of us through the next days and weeks.”
B.C.’s COVID-19 case rate has nearly doubled over the past week. So far, there have been 135 cases of the Omicron variant of concern identified in B.C., with numbers expected to rise rapidly. While public health continues to monitor the impacts of Omicron, including severity of illness and hospitalizations, the recommendation is to take a cautious approach at this time.
“While vaccination remains the best defence against COVID-19, we are now dealing with the new threat of a more transmissible variant,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. “We need to take these measures until we understand the full impact Omicron will have in the B.C. context. It is imperative people follow the new orders in how they celebrate this season. However, there are many things we can now do safely with reasonable and prudent measures like wearing a mask, staying home when sick, getting tested and, most importantly, getting fully vaccinated.”
In addition to the provincial health officer orders, British Columbians are advised to limit indoor gatherings to those who are fully vaccinated, to ensure proper ventilation indoors, to avoid all travel if not fully vaccinated and to follow the travel advisory issued by the federal government to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada.
Revised provincial health officer orders will take effect on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at 11:59pm.
The restrictions will extend to January 18, 2022, at 11:59pm, and include:
no organized indoor social events and gatherings of any size;
concerts, sports games and theatres reduced to 50% seated capacity, regardless of venue size;
closing gyms, fitness centres and dance studios;
closing bars and nightclubs; and
limiting table sizes at restaurants, cafes and pubs to a maximum of six people per table with physical distancing or barriers.
These restrictions are in addition to the revised orders that took effect on Monday, December 20.
The Ministry of Health is postponing non-urgent scheduled surgeries starting Jan. 4, 2022, to manage pressure on acute care facilities. Urgent and emergency surgeries will continue, and rescheduling will be determined through continuous monitoring of capacity and COVID-19 impacts throughout January and on a regional basis.
“COVID-19 cases continue to increase at a concerning rate, and we must take stronger measures to help protect British Columbians and ensure our health-care system is there when people need it,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “It’s a critical time in our fight against COVID-19. Now is the time for us to act, and to work together to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our loved ones safe.”
Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said: “I know everyone is looking forward to being around their family and friends this holiday season after two challenging years. These restrictions balance the need for people to come together with the people they love with the need to collectively act to slow the spread of COVID-19. We know how to get through this – by following the same measures we’ve followed in the past to protect each other.”
In addition to the provincial health officer’s orders, British Columbians are advised to get fully vaccinated if they have not already done so, to get their booster shot as soon as one is offered, to stay home if they are sick, to avoid all travel if not fully vaccinated and to follow the travel advisory issued by the federal government to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada.
TransLink is taking a major step forward in assisting customers who are blind or partially sighted by installing braille signage at every bus stop throughout the region. To make it easier to find bus stops, TransLink will also install tactile walking surface indicators at every bus stop on property that TransLink owns or leases.
TransLink Installing Braille Signage at Every Bus Stop
These improvements will help customers who are blind or partially sighted better navigate the transit system by letting them know which stop they are at and which buses they are waiting for. Once installed, TransLink will be the first transit system in Canada to install braille signage across its entire bus system. Installation began on December 16th and is projected to complete by the end of 2022.
The braille bus stop signs will contain:
Information written in both Unified English Braille and raised tactile letters
Bus stop ID numbers
Bus routes serving that bus stop
Bay or bus stop indicators
Customer Information phone number
“These braille signs and walking surface indicators will help so many people in the community more independently navigate our transit system,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn. “Accessibility is imperative to a quality transit system, and I am very proud of this major step forward for our customers who are blind or partially sighted.”
In addition to the braille signage, tactile walking surface indicators will be installed at every bus stop on property that TransLink owns. These raised surface indicators will be mounted on the ground to help customers who are blind or partially sighted know they are near a bus stop while helping direct them to the front door of the bus.
“The installation of these signs providing transit information in both braille and tactile letter formats is demonstrative of TransLink and Coast Mountain Bus Company’s commitment to providing accessible transit in Metro Vancouver,” says Rob Sleath, a member of Access Transit’s User’s Advisory Committee.
“Tactile signage affixed to a bus stop ID pole will allow those of us with sight loss to accurately distinguish an ID pole from a municipal parking regulation pole and will provide us with the transit information that is readily available to sighted transit users. This will be a major contributor to our ability to travel with confidence anywhere throughout the entire Metro Vancouver area.”
These changes are the result of robust engagement with TransLink’s User’s Advisory Committee, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, and many other regional stakeholders.
TransLink has also been expanding real-time text-to-audio next bus technology at bus stops. Since 2020, TransLink has installed real-time text-to-audio information at every RapidBus stop throughout the region and at every stop at UBC Exchange.
“The installation of braille signage and tactile walking surface indicators will help improve the accessibility of TransLink bus routes for riders who are blind or partially sighted,” says Robert Gaunt, Executive Director, CNIB. “We commend TransLink for making this important investment and for their ongoing commitment to improving the overall accessibility of Metro Vancouver’s public transportation system.”
This initiative is part of achieving TransLink’s goal of being one of the most accessible transit systems in the world. For customers seeking assistance with live transit information or customer support, call the Customer Information team at (604) 953-3333.
FAN EXPO Vancouver 2022 will be the first production of the exposition since February of 2020 and they already have a star studded lineup confirmed for Family Day Long Weekend (February 19-21, 2022)!
FAN EXPO Vancouver 2022
February 19-21, 2022 at the Vancouver Convention Centre
Fresh off his return from space with Blue Origin, FAN EXPO Vancouver will welcome Canadian legend William Shatner (“James T. Kirk”, Star Trek). A rare and exciting chance to meet and hear from Star Trek fan favourite as he celebrates and wraps up his 90th birthday tour. With more than 70 years in front of the camera, his newest venture as a space voyager has landed him the title of the oldest person to ever fly in space. Fans will have the opportunity for photo-ops and autographs, and to hear from him onstage — they might even get the chance to ask him about his newest documentary, Shatner in Space, which is set to premiere on Amazon Prime December 15th.
Shatner will join previously announced guests for FXV 2022 including Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter franchise), My Hero Academia voice actors Justin Briner, Jason Liebrecht, and Christopher Sabat, Clerks franchise favourites Kevin Smith (“Silent Bob”), Jason Mewes (“Jay”), Brian O’Halloran (“Dante Hicks”), Jeff Anderson (“Randal Graves”) and Trevor Fehrman (“Elias”).
Update: Ming-Na Wen (The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett) and Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street) have been added to the lineup.
FAN EXPO Vancouver is a three-day celebration of all things pop culture, from superheroes and sci-fi, to anime and gaming, to cosplay and collectibles. Convention goers from the greater Vancouver area and beyond will come to gather in fandom. In true Family Day long weekend fashion, organizers have supercharged the fun for all ages, especially in the Family Zone.
Tickets are on sale now and early bird pricing is available until February 4, 2022.
Early bird single-day passes range from $32-$42 for adults, and children under 12 can attend the convention for free on Sunday and Monday with the use of the Kids Free Coupon. Three-Day passes are also available, as well as Premium and VIP packages. All tickets provide full access to the Expo, including workshops and panels, celebrity Q&A’s, hundreds of vendors and artists, gaming areas, cosplay contests, and more.
Follow FAN EXPO Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
The holiday season is here and it is in full swing! There are lights, shows, attractions, and so much more making Metro Vancouver so festive right now. Miss604 is proud to sponsor the freeHeritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum all season long, and you can find more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
Organizers of Squamish Constellation Festival (July 22-24, 2022) have announced multi-Grammy and Juno Award-winner Sarah McLachlan will be headlining the event’s return after the festival had to take a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Constellation Festival 2022 with Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan photo credit Kharen Hill
“The live music industry has suffered greatly over the past two years, and for a festival still in its infancy like Squamish Constellation Fest, the impact has been profound,” said Sarah McLachlan, who will be performing in the last slot of the weekend on Sunday, July 24. “We all need opportunities to gather and celebrate and this festival embodies what we’ve been missing: community, love, and togetherness – I am so excited to be a part of it.”
Festival organizers are equally pleased with the pairing and are taking this opportunity to launch its first Kickstarter campaign (live as of Thursday, December 16th at 12:00pm) with rewards that include a select number of cocktail hour meet and greets with McLachlan, autographed memorabilia, weekend passes and more.
“We really could not be more ecstatic,” said Tamara Stanners, partner and co-founder of the festival. “We already have so much love for Sarah that when she agreed we were over the moon. It’s made rebounding from a couple of really tough years so much easier.”
The three-day music and art festival in the heart of the Sea to Sky Corridor had an incredibly successful launch in 2019, with artists including Bahamas, Jessie Reyez, Serena Ryder, Halfmoon Run, and A Tribe Called Red. Plans to announce a full line-up in March of 2020 were stymied when COVID-19 quickly brought the live music scene to a grinding halt. “That definitely hurt us,” added Stanners. “When you are getting a new festival off the ground you expect a few years of uphill efforts before you can stand on firm ground financially. We had a lot of incredible momentum and positivity after our inaugural festival that we hoped to build on despite the immense challenges the pandemic presented.”
The full artist lineup is expected to be released in March, 2022. Organizers assure that if you had a ticket for the 2020 festival which was cancelled, your ticket will be honoured in 2022.
In the meantime, they are hosting smaller, intimate shows through the Little Dipper Concert Series. The next one of those is January 22, 2022 with Said the Whale at the Brackendale Art Gallery. Follow the festival on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news and updates.
