Regina yoga studio one of the first small businesses to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination
As Saskatchewan prepares to lift COVID-19 public health measures on July 11, a Regina yoga studio says it will require proof of vaccination before students return to in-person classes next week.
Bodhi Tree Yoga has been providing online yoga classes since the beginning of the pandemic. The studio will welcome students back to in-person classes starting July 12, but first, clients will have to show they have both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Colin Hall, co-owner of the Cathedral-area yoga studio, said the decision to require proof of vaccination was made on the same basis as moving classes online.
“(Going online) was not easy, it has not been enjoyable for any of us or any of our teachers, but we did that because we thought it was the best thing for our community,” said Hall.
Hall said people have worried about the health and safety of themselves and others throughout the pandemic, so he wanted to create a space where people can get together and relax.
“We wanted people to continue to have access to yoga, but we wanted to be able to provide that in a way that was as safe and as comfortable for people as possible,” he said.
Bodhi Tree Yoga posted its decision to Facebook Sunday morning. The post has more than 600 comments as of Monday evening. Though some of the comments have been negative, Hall said they are outnumbered by positive and supportive feedback.
ASKING FOR PROOF OF VACCINATION
Proof of vaccination requirements and vaccine passports have become hot-button topics as governments and businesses attempt to navigate a post-COVID-19 world.
Premier Scott Moe has said the province will not require proof of vaccination to attend events when restrictions are lifted, adding it could be “a potential violation of health information privacy.”
Hall said it’s his understanding Bodhi Tree Yoga is allowed to ask students to prove they have both shots as long as they don’t share the information with anyone.
Dwight Newman, a constitutional law professor at the University of Saskatchewan, said though businesses can implement their own measures when it comes to wearing masks, asking for a vaccination record could present a privacy issue.
“You’re talking about asking for people’s personal health information and they could argue that interferes in some way with their privacy,” said Newman.
Newman added if people aren’t able to get the COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical issue, they could argue a proof of vaccination policy that prevents them from accessing a business is discriminatory.
Hall said if people aren’t fully vaccinated, if they can’t get a vaccine or don’t feel comfortable going to in-person classes just yet, they can still participate in online classes at Bodhi Tree Yoga, which they will continue to offer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.