Victoria, British Columbia

July 30, 2020

Feast changes

Due to the inability of Americans to cross the Canadian border until at least late Aug. (which could likely be extended into Oct.), and the 14-day quarantine for international travelers to the province of British Columbia, the Church feels the need to cancel Victoria as a site for 2020. We need this time to plan for an alternative site in the northwest region of the U.S. Those members from Western Canada will have the option of attending a local satellite site.

We know that many of you may be holding housing reservations that required deposits. We also realize that we are fast approaching the 60-day window that would allow you to cancel those housing reservations and receive a full refund. Therefore we wanted to make you aware of Victoria’s cancellation as a Feast site for 2020. More information about site alternatives for those who were registered for Victoria will be shared with the brethren in the next week or two.

Thank you all for your patience during this challenging time.

July 10, 2020

COVID-19 updates

Greetings Victoria Feast site registered attendees,

We last wrote to you with an update on June 10 concerning the Feast in Victoria. At that time, we spoke of the U.S.-Canadian border lockdown, as well as the British Columbia provincial 14-day quarantine for international travelers. As of July 8, these restrictions still are in place. The current border lockdown is scheduled to expire on July 21. At this time, no indication has been given as to whether that lockdown will expire or be extended. In addition, British Columbia has given no indication as to if and when the 14-day quarantine will be lifted.

British Columbia’s phased-in COVID 19 restart program has started. It currently allows for group meetings of 50 people or less. This current phase of the phase-in plan is scheduled to continue through September. As previously mentioned, if on-site seating is limited in the Mary Winspear Centre at the time of the Feast, our attendees might only be able to attend services once every two or three days. (This may happen with a few of our U.S. sites as well.)

While we had hoped for better news at this point, we are updating you, as promised, with regards to the latest news on the current situation. We continue to closely monitor the situation and will make necessary decisions and communicate with all of you concerning the Victoria Feast site by sometime after July 21, and no later than the first week of August. In the meantime, should you have any questions, feel free to contact the Victoria Feast coordinator, Jon Pinelli, at jon.pinelli@cogwa.org.

Thank you all for your patience during this challenging time.

June 10, 2020

COVID-19 updates

Greetings Victoria Feast site registered attendees,

This has been a challenging year for all of us concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. It has made planning for this year’s Feast of Tabernacles an unparalleled challenge due to dealing with pandemic protocols. In the case of our Feast site in Victoria, British Columbia, they are the protocols of another country—Canada.

As of this writing, the U.S.-Canadian border is on lockdown—open only to essential travel. This border closure is scheduled either to expire or to be extended on June 21. In addition, the province of British Columbia has a mandatory 14-day quarantine in effect for travelers coming across the border into the province. While the Feast is still a little less than four months away, it is still uncertain as to when the border closing will be lifted and if/when British Columbia will lift its 14-day quarantine order.

It should be noted that British Columbia has begun a phased-in “restart” program for the province. That plan started June 1. The plan’s phases for group meetings are highly restrictive. It allows for meetings of up to 50 people from June through September. While it is possible that the province could increase the number allowed for meetings, it is something we do not know at this time. If on-site seating is limited in the Mary Winspear facility at the time of the Feast, our attendees might only be able to attend services once every two or three days. (This may happen with a few of our U.S. sites as well.)

We wanted all of you to be aware of the current circumstances. We are closely monitoring the situation and will make necessary decisions and communicate with all of you concerning the Victoria Feast site by July 8. In the meantime, should you have any questions, feel free to contact the Victoria Feast coordinator, Jon Pinelli, at jon.pinelli@cogwa.org.

Thank you all for your patience during this challenging time.