B.C.’s capacity limits lifted on restaurants, arenas, concerts, and more

Most B.C. restaurants, movie theatres, performance venues, and arenas are now allowed to have full capacity, after the provincial health order on capacity limits was lifted on Monday.

It’s a big step for many struggling industries hard hit by the pandemic, and a somewhat return to normal for event goers.

The easing of restrictions means guests are now allowed to mingle and do not need to stay in their seats. Venues are also now able to determine their own table limits and liquor service hours are returning to normal.

There are some health rules still in place: everyone must be double vaccinated and everyone must be masked indoors. In addition, there is still no dancing allowed, something that concert venues have said is confusing.

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The restaurant industry is hopeful the easing of restrictions will bring some peace of mind to staff as restaurants will no longer be required to ‘police’ patrons who leave their tables.

Some industries continue to push for the province to allow dancing again, but overall, the scaling back of pandemic measures is being seen as good news by many.

“It’s like Christmas in October,” Maureen Brown with Emerald Events said, though she notes some people may choose to move their wedding to another time if dancing is a deal-breaker.

Measures remain for some parts of B.C.

While most of B.C. will see capacity and other measures relaxed as of Monday, the same is not true of all areas.

Interior Health, Northern Health, and Fraser East remain under provincial health orders where attendance is restricted due to high COVID-19 case numbers and lower than average vaccination rates.

Events and certain non-essential settings in Abbotsford, Harrison Hot Springs, Boston Bar, Mission, Hope, Chilliwack, and Agassiz are only open to those who are double vaccinated, and even then, attendance is limited.

In the Interior, gatherings in vacation rentals remain limited to your household plus five visitors, and weddings cannot be larger than 50 people. Travel to and from the Interior remains discouraged unless the traveller is fully vaccinated.

In Northern Health, worship services must remain virtual and unvaccinated people are not allowed to attend indoor personal gatherings outside of their household.

As of Sunday, anywhere where the B.C. Vaccine Card is mandatory, such as gyms, bars, concerts, wineries, and trade fairs, began requiring people have two COVID-19 vaccines.

Starting Sun, Oct. 24 proof of full vaccination – 2 doses – is required for everyone 12+ to access certain events, services and businesses.

Still need your vaccine card? Get yours now: https://t.co/8FB2ZFpkKU

Need to get vaccinated? Register here: https://t.co/dUSFU06uDf pic.twitter.com/83bpDLskG1

— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) October 22, 2021

To view the full list of places where proof of vaccination is require for entry, and to get a vaccine card, click here. 

Canucks prepare to welcome fans back to Rogers Arena

Meanwhile, the timing of the easing of capacity limits is ideal for the Vancouver Canucks, with the team set to host its home opener on Oct. 26. Fans will be back in the stands at Rogers Arena for a regular season game for the first time in more than 19 months.

The Vancouver Canucks were pushing for capacity limits to be lifted, after it became the last team in the league to still have 50 per cent attendance allowed for games.

Longest road trip in franchise history to start the season ✅

Can’t wait to see you all at home opener, #Canucks fans! pic.twitter.com/ik9AtmhpRo

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 24, 2021

At another hockey arena, the change is a breath of fresh air, and offers some hope for a financial boost.

The BCHL’s Surrey Eagles had been limited to 600 people and as a result were often disappointing fans who weren’t able to attend due to seats being unavailable.

Now, it says it will be ready for everyone to return.

“We’ve been planning for this certain benchmark, and now we can aim for the next one. We are incredibly encouraged that we will be back to standard operating procedure in the snap of a finger,” Asst. General Manager Charlie Black said.

With files from Charlie Carey and Greg Bowman