Hope restaurant facing court action for refusing to check vaccine card

A B.C. Supreme Court judge will now determine if a restaurant in Hope can keep serving customers who are not vaccinated against COVID-19.

This comes after Rolly’s Restaurant was ordered by the Fraser Health Authority two weeks ago to close because its owners refuse to comply with the province’s vaccine card program.

When CityNews called the restaurant, it was still open and staff reported the restaurant is still serving customers — despite losing their business and liquor licence on Oct. 7.

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Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says it’s unfortunate an injunction is necessary.

“Clearly, it shows people they don’t respect their neighbours, they don’t respect their business neighbours, they don’t respect their community,” she said.

“Right now, with what we are seeing, this is not the time to game the system. It’s about making sure that we’re doing what we can to keep those people who are not yet protected from getting sick, and from passing it on to others in those higher-risk settings,” she added.

This is likely not the only business in the province facing legal action, and Henry says it’s time for Rolly’s and other defiant businesses to stop flouting public health orders.

“We have overwhelming support for people feeling comfortable going into a restaurant, going into the movie theatre knowing that everybody else there is vaccinated too,” she added.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Adrian Dix says he expects similar action to be taken elsewhere.

“Hopefully, that sends a message about our determination, but, of course, it’s also our expectation in a pandemic. We owe it to one another to follow public health rules,” he said.

“We’re disappointed seeing as health authorities, as you can imagine, are unbelievably busy and as you know, there are measures in place in the eastern Fraser Valley right now because of high case counts of COVID-19,” he added.

When the diner was ordered to close by Fraser Health, the family who runs the business said they have no plans to stop serving — and no intention of asking anyone to show their vaccine card.

When asked why, Marlene Abeling, who works at the popular diner and is the daughter of the principal owner, responded by citing conspiracy theories, claiming the false statement the vaccine is more dangerous than the virus and “this is not about health.” She also said she believes the vaccine card requirement is discrimination, and not legal.

CityNews has reached out to Fraser Health for comment.