Vancouver restaurant continuing to defy COVID-19 rules ordered to close

A restaurant in Vancouver that’s been openly defying public health orders throughout the pandemic has been ordered to close.

Corduroy, in Kitsilano, posted a video on the restaurant’s Instagram account showing the owner, Rebecca Matthews, receiving a closure order from a Vancouver Coastal Health employee Wednesday.

In the video, a VCH employee told the owner the “health hazard” created by refusing to follow restrictions prompted the health authority’s chief medical officer to issue the order

Matthews tried to argue against the closure, but the man serving her with the order said, “At this point, we’ve already discussed everything that needs to be discussed.”

At one point, another public health officer chimed in to say, “You’re being ordered to close. That’s that.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Corduroy Restaurant (@corduroyrestaurant)

Vancouver Police were also at the scene.

Corduroy was being closed, specifically, for refusing to comply with the province’s mask mandate and enforcement of the B.C. Vaccine Card.

Matthews vows to continue her fight to stay open, but in an Instagram story she says the restaurant will abide by the closure order. She says she is waiting for the government to prove the current restrictions restaurants face because of the virus are valid.

Matthews has spoken at several rallies where she’s questioned the accuracy of COVID-19 testing, railed against the media, and said she has “lost all trust in our government.”

VCH has confirmed with CityNews that the closure order was handed to the restaurant for failing to comply with the provincial face coverings order and the Food and Liquor Serving Premises Order.

The health authority says businesses issued a closure order by public health are legally required to remain closed until public health determines the business is compliant.

The order shared on the Corduroy Instagram says its licence is suspended “imminently through to and including Dec. 31, 2021.”

Related Articles: 

• Vancouver mayor ‘exploring all avenues’ to stop restaurant flouting health orders

• Vancouver eatery flouting COVID-19 rules ‘packed all night’: owner

• Vancouver’s Corduroy restaurant ordered to close by province for defying COVID-19 rules

• Business licenses for two COVID rule-flouting Vancouver restaurants suspended

• ‘Selfish, arrogant, irresponsible’: Industry rep slams Vancouver restaurant defying COVID-19 order

Earlier this year, the Kitsilano restaurant was ordered to close by the province after defying B.C.’s ban on indoor dining for two straight nights.

Health Minister Adrian Dix, along with other politicians and leaders, have been vocal with their frustration over the restaurants flouting restrictions implemented to mitigate the spread of the virus.

With files from Lisa Steacy