Burnaby schools latest to extend mask mandate to children in Kindergarten through Grade 3
Burnaby has joined the list of school districts that will soon be requiring students in Kindergarten through Grade 3 to wear face masks at school.
In a statement Thursday, the Burnaby Board of Education announced that the expanded mask mandate will take effect on Monday, Oct. 4.
“We are hoping the province makes it a provincial mandate, so districts don’t have to do this,” said Daniel Tetrault, the president of the Burnaby Teachers Association. “But in the meantime, we are encouraged that districts are adopting and extending the mask mandate.”
A new order from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has cleared the way for school districts to bring in their own enhanced mask measures, but some parents would like to see the B.C. government be more proactive.
“It feels like unfortunately she’s left each school district to fend for themselves. I really would have liked to see more leadership from her on that," said Kyenta Martins with the Safe Schools Coalition BC. "However, I do appreciate that the school districts now have the autonomy to be able to put in mask mandates."
The Burnaby Board of Education made the decision to expand the mask mandate at a special meeting Thursday morning. The vote in favour of the change was unanimous, according to the board's statement.
Earlier in the week, the Vancouver School Board also voted unanimously to require younger students to wear masks at school. The Surrey Board of Education followed suit on Wednesday.
Province-wide, the mask mandate is only in place for Grades 4 through 12, but teachers and parents have been urging school districts to follow Vancouver's lead and implement their own rules for younger children.
“We are out in Delta and we would like to see K-12 masks as well,” said Scott Lowrey, who has two kids in elementary school. “As adults we have all these precautions and vax passports and all this stuff, but for some reason kindergartens, Grades 1, 2 and 3 are out of that mix.”
North Vancouver mom Alison Verheyde wants action in her child’s school district, too.
“I am really surprised that North Vancouver hasn’t taken this as a positive PR spin to say we hear you, and we can now do it, and we are doing it today,” she said. “Why are the children in North Vancouver treated differently than the children across the bridge? It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
The three Metro Vancouver school districts' decisions to implement their own mandates come amid a spike in COVID-19 infections among children under age 10 in B.C.
Burnaby's expanded mask mandate will apply to all students while they are indoors at school, unless they are "medically, developmentally, behaviourally or otherwise legitimately precluded" from wearing masks, according to the board's statement.
"Staff will continue to work with students and families in a positive and supportive way regarding mask wearing," the statement reads.
"The board is grateful to Fraser Health’s medical officer for meeting on an urgent basis (Wednesday) evening. Her assurance that masks are an effective layer of protection for all students when used in concert with other health and safety measures informed the board’s decision to promptly implement this new mask requirement for K-3 students."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.