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Brian Mark, owner of the West Kelowna gym, says 50 business owners from across the Okanagan met Sunday afternoon to discuss what he calls “operation green light.”
Mark says about 30 people met in person at a Kelowna business, while 20 joined via Zoom.
“Everyone is on the same page. We are ready to stand up for our freedoms. We are ready to stand up for our right to exercise and we are ready to make fitness an essential part.”
Mark says businesses gathered on Jan. 18 will open their doors regardless of whether the shutdown order is lifted or not.
The provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, ordered the closure of gyms in BC on December 22 due to a surge in cases caused by the Omicron variant. She suggested some health restrictions could be lifted on Tuesday after modeling shows the Omicron wave has peaked, but has not offered details.
“After voicing our public stance, we inspired Our Yoga Space and Bliss Yoga Space to open up. We’ve inspired MLAs to speak on our behalf. There are other MLAs speaking out. What you are really seeing is a ripple effect of positive momentum. “
“The people’s liberty really means we have a right to exercise,” added Mark.
Iron Energy was fined by Interior Health and ordered to close.
Kelowna West MLA Ben Stewart sent a letter to the Secretary of Health asking that gyms across the province be allowed to open their doors. In Stewart’s letter, he claims there is a lack of data on the spread of COVID-19 in gyms and fitness facilities.
“We discussed this on Monday in a private conversation with Dr. Henry, and it’s really the old information or the historical information that they’re relying on.”
