PHO’s new order welcome

Dec 1, 2021 | 4:38 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The news from the Provincial Health Office was music to the ears of the local arts community. The restrictions around indoor gatherings have been increased from 50 people to 50 percent capacity.

For Judy Russell, whose performance of The Nutcracker hung on yesterday’s decision, it is a starting gun.

“Honestly, up until yesterday, if this hadn’t happened, we would have just shut down the machine,” she says. “The machine couldn’t really get revved up without a solid understanding that we could forward.”

For arts advocate, Kyle Sampson, the news is good, but restrictions need to be more regionalized.

“Roughly 84 percent of the people of Prince George are vaccinated with two doses. They deserve to have the opportunity to get back to normal safely.”

And he cites an example of what has now become a region inequity.

“The Vancouver Canucks are allowed to have 100 percent capacity for their hockey games but the Prince George Cougars are only allowed to have fifty percent. That’s not fair. The Prince George Cougars are a small business organization.”

Meantime, Russell is dusting off the props to get ready for the show, with a big shout-out to everyone who pushed for change.

“I’m just so humbled and appreciative of all the people who have gone to bat for us. I’m super thankful. And, with that, you gotta step up and get your vaccination.”