District of West Vancouver

West Vancouver is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada.

West Vancouver was the second municipality in British Columbia to record cases of COVID-19 in March 2020, following the first reported outbreak at Lynn Valley Care Home in the neighbouring District of North Vancouver.¹⁾ On March 12, 2020, long-term care facility Hollyburn House announced they had identified two positive cases among a staff member and resident.²⁾

Mayor Mary-Ann Booth began instituting closures on March 13, and on March 16 closed all facilities run by the District except for Municipal Hall, police and fire services, the District Operations Centre and Capilano View Cemetery. She described the closures as “necessary to reduce the spread of Coronavirus in our community,” and told residents they should stay home. All community engagement activities were also suspended.³⁾ She declared a local state of emergency on March 21, granting the municipal government additional powers to enforce orders issued by provincial health officer Bonnie Henry, including business closures and revocation of business licenses.⁴⁾

On October 27, 2021, the district announced a mandatory policy requiring all staff members and volunteers to receive at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of continued employment.⁵⁾ According to district spokesperson Donna Powers, the policy was implemented “to raise vaccination rates across the community.” The West Vancouver Police Department received a similar directive on November 2, allowing officers until January 11, 2022, to provide proof of vaccination or be put on leave.⁶⁾

On December 22, 2021, Chief Administrative Officer Robert Bartlett announced a series of new public health measures in response to an alleged “fifth wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his message, he wrote: “I would like to thank the many staff who have already verified their vaccine status. We know this is the best strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19. Getting vaccinated, and getting your booster when you are called to, is more important than ever as case numbers surge in BC, across the country, and around the world.”⁷⁾

Following the January 4, 2022, deadline to show proof of vaccination, 16 district employees were put on unpaid leave with possibility of termination.⁸⁾

On March 31, 2022, Bartlett announced that the mandatory vaccination policy was to be suspended for current employees as of April 11, 2022. It was to remain in place for new staff and volunteers.⁹⁾

See Completed FOI Requests.

• White Rose Wiki
• Wikipedia