Representatives of Quadra Island are asking people to stay home, even if they are allowed to travel to the community under the province’s new travel restrictions.
Jim Abram, the Strathcona Regional District representative for the Discovery Islands and We Wai Kai First Nation Chief Ronnie Chickite issued a statement on Sunday urging people not to travel to Quadra Island for recreational reasons for the time being due to COVID-19.
“Every year visitors from all over British Columbia and from around the world are drawn to the island for its warm welcome, outstanding recreational opportunities and rich First Nations culture. But in light of the growing crisis
surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic community leaders are asking that visitors defer their travel plans to Quadra Island until further notice,” the statement reads.
Under newly introduced travel restrictions, British Columbians can be fined $575 if they’re caught travelling between health authorities for non-essential reasons.
Speaking to CHEK News on Sunday, Abram said Quadra Island is a small community with limited resources that is dealing with its own coronavirus cases.
“The concern is that we’re a small community. We are at the end of the road so to speak, like Tofino,” said Abram, adding. “Everybody flocks to these places so they can try to get away from the variants and COVID-19, but they’re not going to get away from it, we have it in our community.”
Quadra Island is located near Campbell River and falls within the Island Health region, meaning that Vancouver Islanders can technically travel to the large island without the risk of a fine.
However, Abram says just because you can technically visit the island, doesn’t mean you should.
“We cannot have somebody from Duncan coming to Quadra Island,” he said. “That’s just as bad as having somebody from Vancouver come to Quadra Island.”
In fact, he said anyone, particularly those from Vancouver Island, thinking of visiting Quadra Island for recreational reasons should reconsider and come back when it is safe.
“We have essential workers that have to travel every day on a ferry that have to go back and forth to the hospital in Campbell River every day,” he said, adding. ”
[Chickite and I] are both saying that to protect our elders and our community, which is a huge proportion of older people.”
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