Students, Faculty, Staff, Guest Artists and Board of the Canadian College of Performing Arts,
This communication is to provide you with updates on the measures we are taking to protect the health and safety of our College community.
The precautions and protocols we put in place last year allowed us to be one of the few performing arts colleges in Canada that successfully operated in-person all year without incident of COVID-19. The credit for that success belonged to the entire College community, all of you, working together to support each other and do all we could to help the performing arts industry revive as quickly as possible We are prepared to, and will, adapt our plans as needed as we have over the past year. Here are some of the measures we have in place for our return to campus this fall:
Vaccination:
We strongly encourage you to get vaccinated. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect yourself and our community from COVID-19 and the severe outcomes of the disease. While no one’s personal information will be disclosed by the College, the entire administrative staff are choosing to self-disclose that we are 100% fully vaccinated. This link contains resources and information including registering and finding drop-in clinics: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/proof
Proof of vaccination requirement:
By order of the PHO, proof of vaccination will be required to access some events, services and businesses. Starting September 13, you must have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. By October 24, you must be fully vaccinated. The requirement applies to all people (12+) and covers:
Vaccine Exemption:
The nature of the program at CCPA is such that while students are not required to be vaccinated to attend classes there are integral elements of the training that students will not be able to participate in without proof of vaccine including: live theatre reviews, external performances of the Concert of Remembrance, performance partnerships with bands / symphonies, off-site performances of the year-end musical, and viewing theatre presented by fellow students outside your classes.
Proof of Vaccination Procedure:
As this is a provincially phased process and vaccine passports have yet to be introduced, provincial immunization cards or electronic immunization confirmations will be accepted in advance of the vaccine passport.
Masks on campus:
Wear a mask at the College. Along with vaccination, masks are proven to be very effective in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. Wearing a mask not only protects you, it protects those around you.
PHO order on masks in public indoor settings:
Starting August 25, masks are required in all public indoor settings for all people (12+).
Capacity limits on gatherings:
Other safety measures
We are looking forward to an interactive and vibrant College experience this fall, and to experiencing the enthusiasm and energy of our CCPA community. We are proud to be a place where students learn and grow through interactions with our faculty, staff and the surrounding community. Being in-person at the College and experiencing those connections are core to who we are – and we all have a role to play in keeping our College community safe and healthy so that those connections remain strong.
I know that this rapidly changing environment has been a cause for anxiety for many of us, but please be assured that we have been preparing for our return to campus for months and we continue to monitor and adapt to the guidance of the Provincial Health Authority as we implement our plans for a safe return this fall.
We know that there can be varied perspectives related to the pandemic. It is important that we continue to be kind and understanding and, most importantly, make decisions that protect our health and the health of others. If you have concerns with any of the steps the College is taking, please contact me at confidential@ccpacanada.com. Know that there is support available if you need it, including mental health supports included at the end of this communication. We look forward to welcoming new and returning students next week. Experiencing the vibrancy of our College is one of the many things that makes CCPA special. Let’s do all we can to keep our community safe and healthy.
Caleb Marshall
Managing Artistic Director
Canadian College of Performing Arts
Mental health supports
Students, faculty and staff may be anxious or experiencing increased stress about returning to campus. Mental health supports will be critical for everyone’s health and wellbeing as part of the return to in-person activities on campus. Various supports are available including: