Timmins fitness centre will continue to require proof of vaccination
Timmins fitness centre will continue to require proof of vaccination
Ontario businesses have weathered several lockdowns over the past two years and gyms were one of the hardest hit.
While they are no longer required to check the vaccination statuses of their members, one fitness centre in Timmins has decided to keep the rule a while longer.
Andrea Ditullio is happy Discover Fitness-Discover Performance is going to keep checking clients for their proof of having at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
"I just had a brain tumour removed in November," said Andrea Ditullio. "Fitness is so important in a cancer survivor’s journey and our recovery that we need an environment like this where we can feel safe."
Ontario is leaving it up to business owners to decide if they want to lift the vaccine requirement for their establishments.
Discover Fitness-Discover Performance co-owner Lisa Tremblay said the last couple of years have been challenging but said her members must be vaccinated to use the facility.
"Navigating these times for the last two years with uncertainties and there are still uncertainties ahead, it just seemed like the right thing to do," Tremblay said.
There are also some arenas in northeastern Ontario that will be checking vaccine passports, but those in Timmins will not. Some Timmins business owners also said they've lost too much during the lockdowns so they will not be asking people if they are vaccinated.
The province reported on the Ministry of Health website that 90 per cent of the population over the age of 12 is fully vaccinated with two doses. It also said protection may decrease over time and is not as effective for Omicron as with other variants.
Tremblay said she has not decided when she would stop checking peoples' vaccination status.
"When we can say 'we think now that this is over and we’re good to go,' we’ll make that decision, but right now, it’s too soon. It’s too fast. Not everyone feels comfortable and we also need to respect that," she said.
Capacity limits in Ontario businesses are also lifted and that is something Tremblay said she won't change either.
It's safe to say, regardless of where you want to conduct business, it would be a good idea to check up on an establishment's protocols ahead of time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada pledges funds as G7 develops response to famine fallout from Russian invasion
Canada pledged $50 million to prevent Ukrainian grain from going to waste on Sunday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed to work with G7 nations on further measures to halt the famine caused by the Russian invasion of the embattled country.

Connecting Indigenous inmates to their culture: Grand Chief performs at Manitoba prison
Behind prison walls, National Indigenous People's Day was celebrated this month, with inmates at a Manitoba federal prison granted access to music, drumming and sharing circles — positive steps forward to reconnect Indigenous inmates with their culture and rehabilitate a group that is incarcerated at a disproportionate rate.
Hundreds of thousands celebrate return of Toronto Pride parade to downtown streets
Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of downtown Toronto on Sunday as the city's Pride parade returned for the first time in two years.
BREAKING | Colorado Avalanche win Stanley Cup, beat Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6
Colorado Avalanche win the 2022 Stanley Cup, beating two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine a 'turning point' in world history: defence chief
Canada's chief of defence says Russia's invasion of Ukraine is going to change the course of history.
Halifax scientists have a plan to capture carbon from the atmosphere using mining materials
A Dalhousie University team of scientists — in a joint venture with a company called Planetary Technologies — is now in the next phase of their research to use the power of the ocean to one day reduce the world’s carbon levels.
U.S. Ambassador Cohen on inflation, the convoy protests, abortion rights and gun control
David Cohen has been the United States' Ambassador to Canada since November 2021, and in the time since, both Canada and the United States have experienced a series of shared challenges. In an interview at his official residence in Ottawa, Cohen opens up about the state of the relationship.
Trump's lasting legacy grows as U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe
The abortion decision in the U.S. marked the apex in a week that reinforced former U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing impact in Washington more than a year and a half after he exited the White House.
Trudeau mocks 'bare-chested horseback riding' Putin as G7 leaders meet in Germany
Russian President Valdimir Putin was a target of mockery by leaders of the Group of Seven, as they sat around a table Sunday, commencing their three-day summit in Bavarian Alps, Germany.