Hundreds get COVID-19 vaccine receipt printed, laminated at Arnprior library
Arnprior residents lined up in the rain Thursday morning at the Arnprior Public Library to ensure they had their proof of vaccination.
Last Thursday, the library started offering free printing and lamination of vaccine receipts from the Ministry of Health. Library workers say residents have been turning out in droves to have their proof of vaccination turned into a pocket-sized card.
"We're probably close to 400, probably more than that at this point," Karen DeLuca, the CEO of the Arnprior Library tells CTV News Ottawa. "Yesterday alone we were close to 200."
DeLuca says that of the variety of people coming to the library for the service, a majority of them are seniors.
"We've become kind of central for a lot of seniors who don't have access to a computer, or printer, or smartphones," says DeLuca. "We're a community service; we're all in this together."
One of those local residents at the library Thursday is Cheron Campbell.
"It's more convenient than carrying this (larger paper), and it will last longer," says Campbell, who says she only has a cellphone for emergencies, which isn't a smartphone. "I was more thinking of how does this work? And I knew I needed it, so my daughter printed this off for me and now I'm going to get it laminated."
"Well I'm from old school so I don't really know how to run a phone that well," says Chris Majaury, who also turned out to get his proof of vaccination. "This way if you have it on paper and it gets wet or something you can't really read it. A card you can put in your wallet or you can put it in the glove box of your car, keep it on you, or keep it in your back pocket."
In a statement, the Ministry of Health says Ontario residents will be able to use hard copies of their vaccine receipts to access certain non-essential businesses, even after the digital vaccine passport comes into effect.
"After October 22, 2021, in addition to proof of identity, a patron may present a paper or digital version of the PDF receipt or a paper or digital version of the enhanced vaccine certificate with QR code to gain access to designated settings," wrote Alexandra Hilkene, Press Secretary to Health Minister Christine Elliott.
Although the service offered at the library is free of charge, residents have been showing their appreciation for the help.
"People have been throwing in $5, $10, $20 to the donation jar, and that will go to our next order for laminate," says DeLuca. "We see this as a public service, so we'll find the money from different budget lines to make it work, because I think it's a very important thing."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.