As we navigate through COVID-19 restart and recovery, we will update this post with resources on current provincial health orders and with resources to support businesses, as they become available.
Last Updated April 27 at 1:30 p.m. PDT
BC's phased Restart Plan is currently on hold for the duration of current province-wide restrictions, which were put into place on November 19 and have been extended until further notice.
April 23 Update:
From 11:59 p.m. on March 29 until midnight on May 25, additional province-wide restrictions have been put in place by BC's provincial government. These include:
- Restaurants, pubs, and bars must close for indoor dining; outdoor dining and takeout/delivery can continue.
- Indoor group fitness classes cannot take place.
- The variance allowing indoor religious gatherings is suspended.
- Workplaces with a COVID-19 exposure may be ordered to close for a minimum of 10 days.
An additional order restricting non-essential travel was put in place under the Emergency Program Act on Friday, April 23. Click here for more details and for messaging guidance.
Orders of the Provincial Health Officer:
- April 21: Workplace and Post-Secondary Institution Safety
- April 21: Food and Liquor Serving Premises
- April 11: Delegation: Workplace Closures
- March 31: Gatherings and Events
- Requirements: Indoor Individual Exercise (March 31)
- Variance Suspension: Indoor Worship Services on Four Days (March 29)
- Variance on outdoor worship services (March 23)
- March 14: Agricultural Temporary Foreign Workers
General Resources
- WorkSafeBC Guides:
- BC Centre for Disease Control:
- British Columbia Ministry of Health: Tools and strategies for safer operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Government of British Columbia Restoring Confidence App
- go2HR BSafe Online Training Course
Sector-Specific Resources
During the initial return to operations as part of BC's Restart Plan, WorkSafeBC released guides with sector-specific protocols, along with information on developing a COVID-19 safety plan and understanding the risks. Associations within the various sectors have also been providing resources to assist their members through the reopening and recovery phases.
Accommodations
- WorkSafe BC sector guide for accommodations
- British Columbia Hotel Association:
Arts & Culture
Meetings & Events
- BC Meetings & Events COVID-19 Safe Restart Guidelines
Gyms & Fitness Centres
- WorkSafeBC sector guide for gyms and fitness centres
Offices
- WorkSafeBC sector guide for offices
Parks, Camping & Tourism
- WorkSafeBC sector guide for parks, camping, and tourism
Performing Arts
- WorkSafeBC sector guide for performing arts
Personal Services
- WorkSafeBC sector guide for personal services
Restaurants, cafés, pubs, and nightclubs
- WorkSafe BC sector guide for restaurants, cafes, pubs, and nightclubs
- British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association Resources (BCRFA) Guides and Best Practices to Navigate COVID-19
Retail
- WorkSafeBC sector guide for retail
- Retail Council of Canada: COVID-19 Recovery Toolkit
Ski Area Operations
- Ski Well, Be Well: Ski Area Operating Best Practices
Sports & Recreation
- WorkSafeBC sector guide for sports and recreation
Wineries
- BC Wine Institute: Ready to Reopen toolkit
Click here for additional resources available from WorkSafeBC.
Tourism Industry Advisory Services
- Thompson Okanagan Tourism Resiliency Program: Provides complimentary one-on-one support to tourism businesses in the region.
- Destination BC and Small Business BC Partnership: Provides complimentary advisory and education services for small businesses in the tourism sector.
- go2HR COVID-19 Safety Plan Review Initiative: Provides a complimentary review of a tourism businesses COVID-19 Safety Plan to ensure all requirements are being met.
Our Visitor Experience team is providing service at the Kelowna Visitor Centre daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. while continuing to answer questions from visitors and locals by phone and through various online communication channels. If you have any business updates we should be aware of, please email us at info@tourismkelowna.com.
