Fraser Valley restaurant flouting B.C.’s vaccine card requirement ordered to close

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HOPE (NEWS 1130) — A restaurant in Hope has been ordered to shut down by Fraser Health because its owners refuse to comply with the province’s vaccine card program.

There have been a number of complaints made about Rolly’s Restaurant flouting the requirement to ask customers to provide proof of immunization against COVID-19, according to the health authority which ordered the eatery to close Thursday.

“Unfortunately, the business has been non-compliant with the order since it was implemented, despite our repeated attempts to engage with them,” says a spokesperson in an email.

“As a result, today, Fraser Health issued the business a closure order which will be rescinded once the operator provides a written plan of compliance that has been approved by Fraser Health, including confirmation that vaccine passport requirements will be enforced.”

Marlene Abeling, who works at the popular diner and is the daughter of the principal owner, says they have no plans to stop serving — and no intention of asking anyone to show their vaccine card. When asked why, Abeling responded by citing conspiracy theories, claiming the false statement the vaccine is more dangerous than the virus and “this is not about health.” She also said she believes the vaccine card requirement is discrimination, and not legal.

“We’re all on the same page here. This is a family operation and we all feel the same way,” she continued, adding the order to shut the doors is something they are worried about.

“Of course it’s a concern, but what are we supposed to do? Go against our principles to satisfy a bunch of people who are misinformed? It’s not gonna happen.”

The latest data from the BC Centre for Disease control shows unvaccinated people are 53 times more likely to die than those who have had both of their shots, adjusting for age. The vast majority of those in the ICU due to COVID-19 are also unvaccinated. In Hope, vaccination rates lag behind the provincial average — with 68 per cent of people having received both shots. In British Columbia, the rate is 82 per cent.

Confronted with this information, Abeling was unswayed.

Fraser Health says if the business continues to defy the order, the health authority will “work with compliance and enforcement partners” to “determine appropriate next steps.”

Abeling said the police have been to Rolly’s “on more than one occasion” but “they don’t seem very comfortable getting involved in this whole mess.”

NEWS 1130 has contacted the Hope RCMP for comment.

RELATED: B.C. issues regional public health order for parts of Fraser Valley

While proving two doses won’t be required in the rest of B.C. until Oct. 24, people in Hope already have to show they are fully vaccinated. That became a requirement on Sept. 28 when the province imposed additional restrictions in the eastern Fraser Valley. Limits on in-person gatherings, and mandatory masks were also introduced for the area.

Dr. Bonnie Henry explained the move by saying there had been a “notable rise” in cases, particularly among the unvaccinated. The spike, she said, is putting pressure on hospitals and straining ICU capacity.

With files from Nikitha Martins

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