When Covid 19 reared it's deadly face back in March 2019, our Alano Club here in Mission BC got shut down along with businesses, as the services they offered, (AA & NA Meetings) were considered a non-essential service!

I beg to differ! The Alano Club's offer an extremely essential service! During the first lockdown of three months, from March to June 15th, when the Alano Club was allowed to reopen their doors, it was too late for some. Fellow alcoholics and addicts relapsed, during the three month lockdown, which for some resulted in death. People that were in treatment centers and completed the program during this time, were released out to our community of Mission with no meetings to attend, which for us is our medicine, that keeps us clean and sober. Tell me again, why the Alano Club's are considered a non-essential service?

The Alano Club's follow the Covid 19 protocol's to a tee! They have hand sanitizer everywhere, masks have been made mandatory, the meeting room has marks on the floor for each individual chair, thus enforcing social distancing, the staff at the Alano Club's stay on top of sanitizing everything, they have sign in sheets that are kept for people going in and out of the Alano Club, and each meeting group has their own sign in sheets as well. There is also plexi-glass partitions that are used, the staff is enclosed behind a plexi-glass partition as well. The protocol's that the Alano Club applies on a daily basis, has been working to date.

Please sign this petition, so that we can get the Alano Club's in the Fraser Health District to be considered an essential service, as the services they offer have saved many lives, and shall continue to do so.