Anti-COVID-19 vaccine protestors enter Salmon Arm schools

Salmon Arm schools were placed under a hold and secure today after anti-vaccination protestors entered schools in and around the city.

North Okanagan-Shuswap school district superintendent Donna Kriger sent out a message to parents today, Sept. 17, stating protests were held by those opposing masks and vaccines.

“This morning, protestors did something that was completely unacceptable, which was choosing to enter schools in and around Salmon Arm. As a result, our schools will be placed under ‘hold and secure’ to ensure the safety of staff and students,” she said in the message.

Students were not able to leave the building throughout the remainder of the school day.

Starting on Monday, Sept. 20, all school doors will remain locked and the school district is working with RCMP to ensure protesters are kept off district property, she said in the message.

Kriger and the RCMP were not immediately available for comment.

Kyle Cardinal, who has shared and promoted anti-COVID-19 vaccination conspiracy theories on his Facebook page and attended a Kelowna rally, lived-streamed a protest outside of a School District No. 83 school today. He said he was “serving those that are inoculating our children.”

RCMP and security guards could be seen in the live stream.

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