UPDATE: December 9, 2021 4:30 PM

Northern Health announced today that, effective midnight December 10, 2021, places of worship in the Northern Health region may once again gather for in-person worship services, subject to certain requirements. Places of worship must not exceed 50% of capacity and attendees age eleven and over must be vaccinated (including the officiant). Places of worship must also have a Safety Plan in place. (Read more here.)

The revised requirements are similar to the requirements for other public gatherings and events. ReopenWorship.org sought the reopening of in-person worship, by ensuring that places of worship were treated like other public venues and gatherings. While not all communities of faith may agree with the specifics of the requirements now in place, in-person worship services are at least allowed and worship is no longer singled out. This is welcome news for all people of faith.

Worshipers are now assured that in-person worship services may be done safety. With public health measures allowing for in-person worship services, our community's churches, temples, and other places of worship can continue to celebrate and worship the divine together.

Hopefully, increased vaccination and other public health measures will allow for more reopenings, in more parts of our social and community lives. Let’s keep working together to support the health and safety of our entire community throughout all phases of the pandemic.

Thanks go to Pastor Diana Edis for her leadership and the support of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in our campaign. Thanks also to the Ministerial of Prince Rupert and all the congregations who offered support to reopening worship. Your letters to Northern Health and MLA Rice helped raise awareness and build support. MLA Rice listened to our concerns and offered her support. Thank you, MLA Rice for your leadership behind the scenes.