MEMO
Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2021
To: Special Olympics Yukon athletes and volunteers
From: Serge Michaud, Chief Executive Officer, Special Olympics Yukon
RE: Program Update
Following yesterday evening’s announcement by Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health ( https://yukon.ca/en/news/state-emergency-declared-response-increased-spread-covid-19-yukon ), the following will be effective immediately:
- All Special Olympics Yukon community-based programs are suspended until Monday, November 15 inclusively. This includes Athletics, bowling, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, powerlifting, soccer and swimming.
- All Special Olympics Yukon school-based programming is suspended to Sunday, December 5 inclusively. This includes elementary school-based programming and Unified sports programming.
- The 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner presented by Whitehorse Canadian Tire and the Polar Plunge presented by North 60 Petro will be postponed to early 2022. The exact dates will be announced in the coming weeks.
- All visitors to the Special Olympics Yukon office will be required to wear a mask.
Once Special Olympics Yukon resumes community-based programs on Tuesday, November 16, the following protocols will be in place:
All participants must wear a mask during the program with the following exceptions:
- Bowling and Curling – No exceptions, all participants must wear a mask at all times
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- Athletics, Figure Skating, Powerlifting and Soccer – Athletes and coaches can remove their mask during high energy activity.
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- Cross-country skiing – Athletes and coaches can remove their masks when outside and when physical distancing is possible.
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- Swimming – Athletes and Coaches can remove their mask as they enter the pool
Please note, “Buff” style face coverings are not an acceptable replacement for a mask.
Proof of full vaccination
As a result of the above-mentioned mandatory vaccine measure, all athletes, coaches and individuals attending or participating at a Special Olympics Yukon program. This includes 1 on 1 support workers and anyone that must attend a SOY program to support an athlete. These individuals will be required to submit proof of full vaccination against covid-19 before Tuesday, November 16 at 3pm. You can provide proof in one of the following manners:
- Email your government issued covid-19 vaccination credential to our Program Director, Andrew Elines aelines@specialolympicsyukon.ca . The email containing the vaccination credential will be deleted immediately after Andrew has seen the attachment.
- Visit the Special Olympics Yukon office and show a staff member:
- Your original government issued covid-19 vaccination credential (on your electronic device or paper version)
- Your original covid-19 immunization record (two-toned Blue card that was given to you when you received your vaccination)
- You can visit the office during the following times:
- Wednesday November 10, 8:30am-5pm
- Friday, November 12, 8:30am-5pm
- Monday, November 15, 8:30am-5pm
- Tuesday, November 16, 8:30-3pm
- The SOY office will be closed on Thursday, November 11th
Please note:
- Special Olympics Yukon will NOT keep a record/copy of your covid-19 immunization credential.
- If you have been fully vaccinated against covid-19 and have not obtained your government issued vaccine credential, you can get it by going to the following website https://yukon.ca/vaccine-proof
- If you do not have access to the internet, you can call the Covid-19 InfoLine at 1-877-374-0425 and they can assist you in obtaining your vaccine credential.
It is also important for each of you to continue to practice the Government of Yukon’s “safe 6+1” at all times and to be kind to each other.
Our staff will continue to monitor the current pandemic situation and follow guidance and directives provided by the Yukon Government.
If you require more information on this topic please contact me at your earliest convenience.