Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Amandalina Letterio

COVID-19

Vaccine protestors respond to Labour Day counter-rally

Sep 7, 2021 | 4:46 PM

KAMLOOPS — Vaccine protestors in Kamloops are responding to the counter-rally held at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) on Monday (Sept. 6) evening.

At around 7 p.m., a group of Kamloops residents gathered in front of RIH to counter the vaccine protests held on Sept. 1 in front of hospitals across the province.

Residents used pots and pans as noisemakers and clapped and cheered during the Labour Day counter-rally to show their support and gratitude for healthcare workers.

It was organized by the Kamloops and District Labour Council.

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“It was a good opportunity on Labour Day to celebrate workers and healthcare in general. There was that really horrible rally that happened a few days earlier that made everybody sort of heartbroken and feel bad about it,” President of the Kamloops and District Labour Council Lois Rugg says.

The Sept. 1 vaccine protestors claimed to defend the healthcare workers who don’t want to get the vaccine — but Rugg says it missed the mark.

“Holding that rally, especially in front of the hospital, was disrespectful and doesn’t recognize all the work that they’re doing to try and support people through this situation,” she added.

The organizer of the vaccine protest, Glenn Aalderink, who is also nurse at Royal Inland Hospital, told CFJC News that he stands by his choice to protest in front of the hospital, saying it was the only place to get the attention of those in authority.

In a Facebook message, Aalderink said: “Do I regret Healthcare workers thinking they were the target? Yes. Do I feel bad that patients and coworkers were disturbed? Yes. Am I sorry for making a bold statement to try and stop a terrible policy that could literally destroy our hospitals. No, I am not.”

Image Credit: CFJC Today

The Hospital Employees Union represents more than 50,000 healthcare workers across the province. Union President Barb Nederpel says healthcare workers across the board did not feel supported by the Sept. 1 rally.

“People were being obstructed as they were going into work. People were being spit on, assaulted, yelled at, and sworn at. These are workers that have been through so much in the last 18 months that this was the last thing that they needed,” Nederpel claims.

The counter-rally was held on Labour Day to remind healthcare workers of how important they are.

“I understand that people have differing opinions, but we do believe that the people that are doing the work to save people’s lives and help us deserve more respect than what they got from that rally,” says Rugg.