Vaccine Hunters Canada says it is closing its operations one year after its launch to help Canadians across the country track down COVID-19 vaccines.
The popular volunteer-run organization made the announcement in a news release Saturday.
“Exactly one year to the day that Vaccine Hunters Canada started operations, we are humbled to be quietly closing our doors,” the group said, thanking Canadians for their support.
“While Canada’s fight against COVID-19 isn’t over, we are happy that millions of Canadians are fully vaccinated with vaccines now being readily available for anyone who is looking.”
[CA] Exactly one year to the day we started, we are closing our doors.
Thank you for all your support over the last year. The heart behind VHC is helping others and your community to make this world a better place.
— Vaccine Hunters Canada (@VaxHuntersCan) March 19, 2022
Vaccine Hunters Canada launched in March 2021 with an objective to help Canadians find vaccines.
The platform grew on social media, with accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Discord. Its Twitter page has close to 265,000 followers.
The group has received praise from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam.
“A year ago we were in a much different place than we were today…Vaccines were just introduced and that was a really amazing sort of beacon of hope for many people because for a year we’d all been at home with the worry of COVID around us,” Sue Motahedin, who worked as one of the volunteers told Global News’ Kabilan Moulitharan in an interview Sunday.
She said a year ago, public health units across Canada had different approaches to their vaccine distribution networks.
“Our role was really stepping in and helping people figure out what was going on in their own communities, who were eligible, who they could connect to, to find a vaccine, how to book a vaccine…There was a lot of confusion because this was new,” Motahedin said.
She said that with a team of volunteers across Canada the organization was able to help people make sense of a lot of the COVID-related information that the government and public health were sharing with the public.
“It was changing daily. And we did our best to make sure that as many people as possible saw the energy and effort that were put in trying to reach people,” said Motahedin.
3:03 ‘It’s become a movement:’ Trudeau meets with volunteers behind Vaccine Hunters Canada
‘It’s become a movement:’ Trudeau meets with volunteers behind Vaccine Hunters Canada – May 18, 2021
In August 2021, five months into its launch, the organization that gained 100 volunteers started winding down its operation as it pivoted towards automated services.
“Thank you for all your support over the last year,” Vaccine Hunters Canada said on Saturday.
“The heart behind VHC is helping your community and finding ways to help others.
“We hope that everyone can find ways to work with their neighbours, communities and families to make this world a better place.”
To date, Canada has an 85 per cent full vaccination rate, 89 per cent of eligible Canadians have at least received one dose and almost 47 per cent have got their booster shots.
— with files from Global News’ Kabilan Moulitharan and Aaron D’Andrea.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
