Iron Energy Gym plans to reopen its doors on April 8, 2022, when vaccine proof will no longer be required at fitness facilities.
Image Credit: GOOGLE STREET VIEW
March 15, 2022 - 12:30 PM
Iron Energy Gym is hoping to reopen its doors once the proof of vaccination order is repealed in B.C.
Interior Health ordered the West Kelowna gym to close in early February after it repeatedly failed to abide by COVID restrictions. Although Iron Energy kept its doors open for more than two weeks after the order, the health authority was granted a court injunction to enforce the closure on Feb. 18.
"We are working on getting open for April 8. That's the goal," reads a statement on the gym's social media posted last night, March 14.
READ MORE: Compensation, not term lengths, could determine who runs for city hall in Kelowna, Kamloops
On that day, provincial health authorities are expected to end use of vaccine cards in certain indoor facilities. Gyms are still included in that order.
Public health orders for masks and physical distancing have already been repealed, and B.C. businesses will no longer be required to submit a COVID-19 safety plan by April 8.
Interior Health confirmed in an email today, March 15, that the closure order would be lifted once the Province repeals its vaccine card policy.
"In a case where there is a court order to abide by a Public Health Act order and the order is lifted, the court order will become null and void," an emailed statement from an Interior Health spokesperson continued.
The Feb. 18 order from the B.C. Supreme Court allows Interior Health to keep Iron Energy from opening for six months or as long as its closure order is in effect, whichever comes first. The injunction reinforces Interior Health's efforts to close the gym, and anyone opening its doors now risks being arrested.
READ MORE: Confused about where masks and vaccine cards are still needed? Here's some answers
Iron Energy's efforts to keep its doors open lasted months since provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry ordered fitness facilities to close in December in response to rising COVID-19 cases, which began to spike due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
Interior Health delivered nearly two dozen fines to the gym, then posted a closure order on its front door on Feb. 3 in response to the gym's defiance.
READ MORE: Former Westbank First Nation staffer sues band over firing
— This story was updated at 3:12 p.m., March 15, 2022, to include a statement from Interior Health.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2022