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July 29, 2020 - 7:00 AM
A sign spotted on a silver pickup truck in Kelowna with a Washington licence plate might just represent the peak of British Columbians' collective frustration with visitors in a pandemic.
A disclaimer on the truck spotted in a parking lot in Kelowna this week appears to plead with B.C. residents to leave it alone because the driver is also a B.C. resident
"Before you judge: I am a UBC Okanagan student, I have lived here for three years with my truck, thank you for understanding," reads the sign posted to the back of the vehicle.
The truck was spotted Tuesday, July 28.
Stories of visitors being accosted by irate locals have become surprisingly common, considering the reverence many resident have for provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and her constant message to 'be kind.'
Dr. Henry offered a familiarly kind, calm and safer approach when asked about the reaction to foreign licence plates in B.C., July 28.
“There are many reasons why people have different license plates here in B.C.,” she said.
She also said she’s aware of many people who came home to look after elderly family members.
“We need to respect to that,” she said. “We also need to respect that many people have been here for a long time. They may have done their isolation, and they are members of our community and we need to treat everybody with kindness and with respect. We do not know everybody's story.”
Dr. Henry said it’s important to keep in mind that we are all in this together, regardless of whether a license plate is from Alberta or California, or B.C.
There have been an increased number of cases of people with U.S. licence plates here in B.C. being harassed when they go to the grocery store.
Before Dr. Henry offered her thoughts, Premier John Horgan recommended drivers who have out-of-province licence plates on their vehicles should consider taking public transit or riding a bicycle if they’re feeling harassed by people.
READ MORE: Horgan advises drivers with non-B.C. plates to take bus to avoid harassment
“I would suggest, perhaps, public transit,” he said at a news conference. “I would suggest that they get their plates changed. I would suggest they ride a bike.”
In the Yukon, as of July 20, 2020, a person with an out-of-province licence plate can get a decal on the driver's side of the windshield to show their vehicle is allowed.
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