West Kelowna's Iron Energy aims to reopen when vaccine proof no longer required
Iron Energy Gym is hoping to reopen its doors once the proof of vaccination order is repealed in B.C. Interior Health ordered the West Kelowna gym to close in early February after it repeatedly failed to abide by COVID restrictions.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...
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Iron Energy Gym is hoping to reopen its doors once the proof of vaccination order is repealed in B.C.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.
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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Public health orders for masks and physical distancing have already been repealed, and B.C. businesses will no longer be required to submit a COVID-19 safety plan by April 8.
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.
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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.
iNFOnews.ca has reached out to Interior Health to comment on whether the closure order will be repealed in line with reduced health orders, but it has not responded in time for publication.
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