Peace Arch Park in B.C. still closed despite lifting of COVID rules

The arch at Peace Arch Park along the Canada-U.S. border is pictured surrounded by grass and trees as people stand below the structure. The Canadian and U.S. flags are fluttering in the wind above the arch — FILE -- In this photo taken May 17, 2020, people walk back and forth across the border between the U.S. and Canada in Peace Arch Park in Blaine, Washington. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elaine Thompson Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights re

Posted October 6, 2022 9:55 am.

Last Updated October 6, 2022 9:56 am.

While COVID-19-related travel regulations have lifted across the country, there’s still a popular park in B.C. along the border that remains closed.

Peace Arch Provincial Park straddles the Canada-U.S. border, extending into Washington state.

The park operator says the closure on the Canadian side of the park is in place “until further notice,” adding “BC Parks has not given us a reopening date.”

In a statement to CityNews, the Ministry of Environment says reopening Peace Arch Park is “a top priority.”

“BC Parks is having conversations with the Semiahmoo Nation and other stakeholders on a re-opening plan,” an email reads.

The ministry says the “open nature” of the park has “made it challenging to ensure visitors were meeting border entry requirements, which is why the park remained closed.”

“We will continue to engage with key stakeholders to ensure the park re-opens as soon as possible,” the statement concludes.

Peace Arch Park, because of its location on the 49th parallel, became a popular, unofficial meeting place for Americans and Canadians in the early day of the pandemic as the country brought in travel restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The park offered many loved ones a chance to reconnect in person, which was criticized by many as a restriction “loophole.” The park also saw a surge in visitors at times, leading to concerns over large gatherings of unvaccinated people who were not self-isolating.

Several tents sit on a large grassy area with trees in the distance

It was shut in June 2020 after a brief closure earlier in the year.

“The park will reopen when it is deemed safe to do so,” the Ministry of Environment said that month.

The ministry told CityNews at the time that required measures, such as checking for vaccination status, were among the reasons for the ongoing closure.

-With files from Peter Wagner

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