ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | OP-ED | A11
A Mama’s perspective on vaccine mandates By A.M. Cullen
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here has been a whirlwind of information and opinions regarding the recent vaccine mandates and restrictions coming to BC on September 13. As a new mama of a pandemic baby, I wanted to share why I’m excited about them. Recently, I created an art piece entitled “Mama!” for the upcoming Concept Exhibition for the Federation of Canadian Artists. I wanted to showcase my baby’s worldview during the last (and only) year of her life. I came to realize that even though the world is up in arms about our sense of “normalcy” being uprooted, what has felt alien to us is the norm for my child. And this makes me sad. When masking went from mandatory to recommended here in Fort St. John, overnight we were able to walk into Canadian Tire and see smiling faces everywhere. My baby was overjoyed. I don’t want to see her most impressionable years surrounded by masked faces, a fear of hugs, and grandparents waving over Zoom. And for that reason, I’m excited for the new mandates and restrictions regarding vaccinated patrons coming September 13. SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE A CHANCE AGAIN We’re officially in the fourth COVID wave in Canada. Comparing new infection numbers (over 1700 this past weekend) to this time last year (when it was about 100 per day), we are dealing with a very different beast. It looked like we were facing another lockdown of non-es-
#MOMLIFE sential businesses, but these new rules regarding vaccine check give businesses a chance to surf over this wave without having to close up shop again. MAMAS CAN FEEL AT EASE The more I learned about the Delta variant these past few weeks, the more concerned I felt about my baby’s well-being. Right now, babies in Fort St. John are being diagnosed with COVID (unheard of with the original strain) and healthy young adults are being incubated and shipped down to other hospitals because we can’t treat them. With the new vaccine mandates, I feel like I can finally go into a restaurant or small businesses with my baby (or anyone else under 12) with less worry. IT’S A REWARD FOR THOSE DOING THEIR PART Along with providing an incentive for those still unvaccinated to roll up their sleeves, it also provides a little reward for those families that have been helping in the global effort to combat the virus by being vaccinated. IT’S TAKING A STRONGER STANCE BEYOND MASKING AND WASHING Many argue that the new mandate isn’t necessary because of masks and handwashing. The reality is that we know that COVID-19 is airborne, so wearing masks and handwashing habits only go so far to reduce the spread. Also, here in the north we’re not the best at following the previous maskwearing recommendations
put forth by public health. This past Spring, we saw infection numbers drop, we loosened the restrictions, felt some normalcy again, but, not surprisingly, we saw cases surge again after a summer of getting together. Strategies that mandate/ encourage vaccination is the only way to slow this roller coaster of cases. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO YOUR OWN BODY, BUT NOT TO OTHERS One of the common arguments I’ve seen floating around social media is that vaccine mandates impedes the pro-choice mentality: it’s my body and I’ll do what I want to it. And I completely agree. In our free country, people deserve to have choice over our bodies, we do not however, have the right to endanger others. As a Mama and a public school teacher, protecting vulnerable people has been my mantra for years. Workplace vaccine mandates are frustrating, especially if you’ll need to consider other professions as a result, but I know that when I send my baby to school one day, I expect it to be a safe place for her to learn. I would expect the same sending my elderly loved ones into care. YOU ARE STILL FREE To my soggy protesters standing in the rain last weekend and anyone else grumbling about the new restrictions, you still have your freedom. You are free to choose what goes into your body, where to go to work, where to go to school, and what to do in your leisure time. Yes, for the unvaccinated few, choices are a little
A.M. CULLEN PHOTO
A.M. Cullen: “Recently, I created an art piece entitled ‘Mama!’ for the upcoming Concept Exhibition for the Federation of Canadian Artists. I wanted to showcase my baby’s worldview during the last (and only) year of her life.”
more limited for now, but be thankful that you live in a country that offers this choice. There are thousands of struggling Mamas in Afghanistan in this moment actually living under a dictatorship without regular access to vaccines that would trade places with you any day. IN SUM Yes, it’s inconvenient for some. But 18 months into this pandemic with a 13-month-old on my arm unable to be vaccinated, I’m ready to see a light at the end of this very dark tunnel. However you decide to choose to vent your frustra-
tions in the coming weeks, please remember to be kind and stay well-informed. As I lectured to my many secondary English classes over the years, please read and share reliable, sciencebased sources and don’t rely on Facebook alone for your pandemic information. Sincerely, A Concerned (Yet Hopeful) Mama A.M. Cullen lives and writes in Fort St. John. Are you parenting in the Peace? Send in your questions, topics, or suggestions for #MomLife to cover at momlife.ahnfsj@gmail.com.
Vaccine passports and the tyranny of the majority
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n Monday I watched as John Horgan, Bonnie Henry, and Adrian Dix tried to explain why they believed it is correct to penalize all those who do not believe in COVID-19 vaccinations. They probably sounded good to those who live and die on their every word as to why anyone who has not received a vaccination should be viewed as an outcast and penalized as such. Except they forgot one basic tenet of life and democracy in Canada: Canada protects the rights of the minority and guards against what is called the tyranny of the majority. Backing up a bit, what John, Bonnie, and Adrian said is that anyone, no matter the reason, will be penalized if they do not agree to have two consecutive vaccinations as approved by themselves. Period. End of discussion. No exceptions. For those who did not watch or pay attention to what was said, one comment stands out. Dr. Henry talked statistics and who is likely to contract COVID, who is likely to transmit and so forth, and so be that. Don’t know if she is correct, don’t know if she is wrong, but I can live with that, except it is interesting she could never tell us how many people in our communities contracted COVID, but she can now clearly tell us all how many are not vaccinated. What the not-so-good Dr. Horgan added was that he thinks he is on safe ground mandating penalties for all who do not get vaccinated, as 75% of B.C. residents are fully vaccinated and they all wish for him to force everyone else to get vaccinated as that is the will of the people. I missed the part as to why our government wouldn’t just send anyone who refuses to be vaccinated straight to jail and be done with it. At the news conference, I listened carefully for what this means and I am certain that they were very clear and that there are no exceptions: Get vaccinated in B.C. and if you don’t, suffer the consequences. No excuses, no reasons, no exceptions.
EVAN SAUGSTAD I stated this is the tyranny of the majority, and for good reason. Democracy generally means that the majority rules, and for most things it works, but there are exceptions. In a fair and just society, exceptions are usually applied when a majority view or belief is one that penalizes or marginalizes a minority one. Canada and B.C. are no different. We have had our fair share of history of penalizing minorities. Remember the Little Sisters fight against the government and its definition of explicit adult materials? If not, Little Sisters was a small business in Metro Vancouver who sold/ rented/showed explicit materials. The government of the day decided that this was immoral and damaging to the majority, so they confiscated their materials, ordered them shut down, and charged them with crimes. Little Sisters disagreed and fought back and, in the end, won. Supreme courts said government cannot make all decisions as to what one may watch or not, and that in trying to do so, infringed on the rights of a minority — in this case, those who wished to view what others thought of as explicit material. They won, and today one can find and view almost anything imaginable if they so choose. I could go on about how this decision has not been good for our society but that is not the point. The point is that what one person believes is great and necessary is not necessarily what everyone else believes. Consequently, we learn to live with these court decisions and accept that not every minority right is the best decision for the majority. Public sentiment cannot drive how society punishes individuals in a
PROVINCE OF BC
free and democratic society. One would think that Premier Horgan would have had the guts and gumption to just mandate every person in B.C. be jabbed and be over with it. He didn’t because he knows and understands the backlash this would have. We all have the right to determine what does or does not go into our body. So instead he used the backdoor and mandated others to be the tyrants. I didn’t write and argue this from the point that vaccinations are bad or not needed, as I have had mine. I write this because it is no one else’s business as to why I did, just the same as it is no one else’s business if I had chosen not to. I also have no problem if individuals or businesses wish to restrict access to their private premises based on vaccinations, or masks, as I can choose whether I go there or not. My issue is that government is now saying individuals and businesses have no choice, and that is wrong. As we will soon find out, this mandate is not only about restricting access to places considered discretionary to our day-to-day life. Many people travel from the north to the south for medical care that is not available or offered locally. Drive yourself or travel in Northern Health’s Connector bus, Fort St. John to Vancouver, to see your doctor. Travel can take two days, each way. Better pack a ham sandwich as you
will not be able to eat in a restaurant if you are not vaccinated. Travel in B.C. from another province that does not offer vaccination cards and the same will apply. Better bring your own kitchen, as one can still get into grocery stores to buy food. Just can’t let someone cook it for you. Same for those who live here and have reasons not be vaccinated. Better not try traveling around B.C. for any reason, as you will soon find what the province describes as discretionary may actually be essential for your wellbeing. And to the process: Is it really up to us to figure out a way to get the card? How about putting the onus back on government to send us the card as they have all the information. I am also quite sure there will be many more examples surface was we begin to digest just what they have done and what this truly means. And as I finish this, like magic, Dr. Henry does it again. Another announcement, not even 24 hours later. Everyone put their masks back on. Now, that may not sound out of the ordinary, but the fact that these were not both announced at the same time suggests to me that not a lot of thought has gone into the what, why, and how of the province’s COVID response. How do you spell winging it? Evan Saugstad lives and writes in Fort St. John.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A12 | HALFWAY RIVER RODEO | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021
Open Breakaway Saturday - Madalyn Fraser Sunday - Danny Moore Average - Madalyn Fraser
Results from the 2021 Halfway River Rodeo, Aug. 20 to 22: The Halfway River Rodeo returned with a giant “yeehaw” last weekend, August 20 to 22, with two days of junior and adult rodeo taking place in front of a packed Halfway River Rodeo Grounds crowd. Despite the rain, the crowds were out in droves and grateful to be back at the Halfway Rodeo for the first time in 2019. Madalyn Fraser of Fort St. John and Clayton Moore of Pouce Coupe were the big winners. Fraser won the open breakaway on Saturday and the all around average, as well as the Saturday barrel racing title and all around average. Moore won both days of steer wrestling, won the team roping event on Saturday with Gary Spiers, and won the Saturday tie down roping draw and all around average. Ryan Roberts of Prince George had a great weekend as well, winning the Saturday titles for ranch bronc and saddle bronc, as well as the overall average titles for both. Kids gymkhana events were held on Friday evening before the two days of rodeo. Here are the winners of each event.
Bareback Saturday - Chris Muigg Sunday - Jared Marshall Average - Chris Muigg Barrel Racing Saturday - Madalyn Fraser Sunday - Brittney Ollenberger Average - Madalyn Fraser Junior Barrels Saturday - Shelby Corr Sunday - Shelby Corr Average - Shelby Corr 16 and Under Steers Saturday - Nathan Johnson Sunday - Colby Robbins Average - Colby Robbins 12 and Under Barrels Saturday - Caitlyn Kelly Sunday - Caitlyn Kelly Average - Caitlyn Kelly
Halfway River Rodeo Results 12 and Under Steers Saturday - no time Sunday - no time Average - Davy Boy Murray Bull Riding Saturday - Auzyn Corr Sunday Auzyn Corr Average - Auzyn Corr Team Roping Saturday - Clayton Moore and Gary Spiers Sunday - Cody Brett and Cole Sutherland Average - Dustin Livingston and Rod Spiers Cow Riding Saturday - no qualified Sunday - Lane Beattie Average - Lane Beattie Steer Wrestling Saturday - Clayton Moore Sunday - Clayton Moore Average - Clayton Moore Ranch Bronc Saturday - Ryan Roberts Sunday - Josh Thiessen Average - Ryan Roberts Tie Down Saturday - Clayton Moore Sunday - Cody Brett Average - Clayton Moore Saddle Bronc Saturday - Ryan Roberts Sunday - Colton Crook Average - Ryan Roberts
DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTOS
Top: Andy Copeland winds up to throw his rope during his breakaway roping run at the Halfway River Rodeo, August 21, 2021. Middle: Lara Kelly of Charlie Lake takes her run in the breakaway roping event at Halfway River. Bottom: Jared Marshall had a strong bareback ride Saturday, August 21, before winning the event the next day at the Halfway River Rodeo.
Canadian High School Rodeo Finals results The 2020-21 BC High School Rodeo season concluded with the Canadian High School Rodeo Finals in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, August 5 to 7. Both the senior and junior rodeos took place that weekend. The North Region had two national champions — Landon Dowling of Chetwynd finished first in junior chute dogging, and Riley Beier of Vanderhoof was crowned the senior high barrel racing champ. The champs won’s have very long to celebrate, however, as the 2021-22 fall season gets going August 28 and 29 with a North Region rodeo in Quesnel, followed by a rodeo at the Moore Ranch in Pouce
Coupe, September 4 to 6. Her are the North Region results for the Canadian High School Rodeo Finals. Senior Results Barrel Racing 1. Riley Beier 19. Rachel Moat Breakaway Roping 18. Riley Beier 19. Rylie Bondaroff 20. Fallon Jones Tie Down Roping 10. Tyler Pederson 20. Tucker Esau 22. Korbin Mills Steer Wrestling 7. Tyler Pederson Goat Tying 6. Lauren Konashuk
10. Rylie Bondaroff 13. Kendall Esau 15. Fallon Jones Team Roping 7. Korbin Mills, Wyatt Bondaroff 12. Riley Beier, Tucker Esau T15. Rylie Bondaroff, Tyler Pederson Pole Bending 14. Destiny Ollenberger 16. Daylyn Callison Girls Cutting 6. Rachel Moat Boys Cutting 7. Korbin Mills Reined Cow Horse 8. Rachel Moat 15. Fallon Jones Junior Results
Barrel Racing 15. Nevada Jones Chute Dogging 2. Landon Dowling 6. Mavrik Studley 8. Chase Kohorst 9. Ethan Nelson Girl’s Breakaway Roping 9. Kerri Moat 12. Alyiah Hart Bull Riding 13. Mavrik Studley Tie Down Roping 2. Jacob Bowden Ribbon Roping 4. Landon Dowling 5. Jacob Bowden, Nevada Jones Boy’s Breakaway Roping
5. Chase Kohorst 6. Ethan Nelson 12. Landon Dowling Team Roping T10. Ethan Nelson, Kerri Moat T10. Jacob Bowden, Landon Dowling T10. Chase Kohorst, Nevada Jones Bareback 7. Mavrik Studley Girls Goat Tying 15. Mariah Harvey 16. Kaelyn Jones Boys Goat Tying 11. Ethan Nelson Saddle Bronc T5. Mavrik Studley — sports@ahnfsj.ca