Jets, Moose fans still need vaccination proof after Manitoba ends mandate on March 1

Manitoba is dropping its proof-of-vaccination mandates as of March 1 but the requirement is staying put for a while longer at Canada Life Centre.

True North Sports and Entertainment — owners of the downtown Winnipeg arena and the city's two professional hockey teams — say anyone attending home games for the Winnipeg Jets or Manitoba Moose will need to have their proof of vaccination QR codes scanned until April 30.

Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Thursday the scanning app used to verify vaccination codes will continue to operate after the mandate is lifted, so any businesses that want to continue requiring proof will be able to do so.

In a letter sent to season ticket holders and in a post on Twitter, True North said it has aligned its health and wellness principles with provincial health orders throughout the pandemic.

While it understands the rationale behind the lifting of public health orders — including the elimination on March 15 of the mask mandate — True North said it recognizes there are still varying comfort levels with the changes, particularly in an arena with more than 15,000 people sitting in close proximity for extended periods of time.

It used a survey to gauge that comfort level among season ticket holders and found 55 per cent of respondents indicated they would be uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with the vaccination requirement lifted.

Of those who wanted to see it extended, 90 per cent preferred to keep it in place until at least April 30.

On March 15, however, Canada Life Centre will follow the province's lead and no longer require masks. They will still be strongly encouraged, though, said the letter from John Olfert, True North's president and chief operating