Vaccine opponents entered B.C. schools for 'completely unacceptable' protests, officials say
Anti-vaccine protesters allegedly entered multiple schools in B.C.'s Shuswap region Friday, prompting strong words from district officials.
Social media posts suggest the vaccine opponents were there to protest pop-up vaccination clinics held on school grounds.
One anti-vaccine activist complained on Facebook about eligible youths being given the chance to get protected against COVID-19 against their parents' objections.
"We are to discuss the procedures of inoculation of our children with those that will be administering the shot," he wrote before the protests.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has been clear for months that youths between the ages of 12 and 17 can make up their own minds about vaccination. B.C.'s Infants Acts allows minors to make their own informed medical decisions, with the support of health-care workers.
The North Okanagan-Shuswap School District said there have been a number of recent protests from people opposed to vaccines and mask rules, but that Friday's demonstration went too far.
"This morning these protesters did something which was completely unacceptable, which was choosing to enter schools in and around Salmon Arm," superintendent Donna Kriger said in a news release.
As a result, a number of schools were placed under hold and secure protocols for the remainder of the school day, meaning that students were not allowed to enter or leave the building.
The situation left some local parents fuming.
"Seriously? Protest all you want but pick the right place and where my child is learning is not it," one parent wrote on Twitter Friday.
The district said it plans to lock the entrances to all local schools on Monday, and asked parents who need to get inside to notify the office.
"Please know that the intent of our actions is to maintain environments which are safe for all students and staff. Thank you for your support and understanding," Kriger said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.