Ottawa BlackJacks want 300 fully vaccinated healthcare workers in stands for home opener at TD Place
Ottawa's professional basketball team is hoping fans will be in the stands for the home opener next Thursday at TD Place.
The Ottawa BlackJacks have asked Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Lisa MacLeod for permission to host 300 fully vaccinated healthcare workers for three games, including the first game on June 24.
"If the NHL is allowed in the province of Ontario to have fully vaccinated healthcare workers, there's no reason why basketball in Ottawa should be given the same," said Michael Cvitkovic, President of the Ottawa BlackJacks.
The BlackJacks shared a letter on social media sent to Premier Ford on June 3. The letter notes Ontario allowed 550 fully vaccinated healthcare workers to attend a Toronto Maple Leafs game against Montreal on May 31.
"In consultation with Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, the venue managers of the Arena at TD Place where the Ottawa BlackJacks play, based on the 10,000 seat basketball capacity of the venue and the precedent set in Toronto, we have estimated a safe capacity of 300 healthcare workers should be permitted to attend our home games slated for June 24, 28 and July 1, 2021 with complimentary admission," said the BlackJacks in the letter to the Premier.
The BlackJacks want to express their appreciation for the work of healthcare workers.
They’re the real heroes and so it’s an opportunity for out players and coaches to be able to say thank you, to be able to give back," said Cvitkov.
"To be able to have some people here, the acoustics are great, 300 people, vaccinated healthcare workers here at the Arena at TD place, it's still going to sound loud."
The team says Mayor Jim Watson has endorsed the plan, but they haven't received a response from the Ontario government.
The office of Health Minister Christine Elliott provided CTV News Ottawa with a copy of a letter the minister sent to the Ottawa BlackJacks president.
"Thank you for reaching out and offering your upcoming home games as opportunities to celebrate Ontario's healthcare workers," wrote Elliott.
"While we know now is not the time to begin reopening indoor sports venues, we will take your generous offer into consideration and we will follow up if an opportunity presents itself in the future."
Elliott's letter notes Ontario allowed 550 fully vaccinated healthcare workers to attend the Leafs-Canadiens Game, with "rigorous health and safety protocols" in place.
"This special exemption was made as a sign of our appreciation for their commitment to upholding the health and safety of Ontarians throughout the pandemic."
The Mayor's Office tells CTV News Ottawa that Watson sent a letter to the premier on June 3 in support of the proposal.
"I believe this is a safe and worthwhile initiative to replicate in Ottawa what was done in Toronto earlier this week. I’m certain this proposal would be a welcomed gesture of gratitude for our fully vaccinated healthcare workers in recognition of their efforts over the last 15 months," wrote Watson in the letter to Ford.
The Ottawa BlackJacks play in the Canada Elite Basketball League.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More Canadians are moving to the U.S. Here's one of the main reasons, according to an immigration expert
Recent data from the U.S. census revealed that more than 126,000 people moved from Canada to the U.S. in 2022. An expert said that one of the main reasons for this move is the cost of living.
Bus carrying Quebec tourists crashes in Cuba, leaving 1 dead and 26 injured
One person is dead and 26 were injured after a bus carrying Quebec tourists was involved in a collision in Cuba on Sunday.
Her gut was producing alcohol. Doctors didn't believe her
For two years doctors told her she was an alcoholic. Then they realized her gut was making alcohol from carbohydrates, a rare condition called auto-brewery syndrome.
'They need this protection': Trudeau gov't re-offers $1.5M for enhanced Pride security in Canada
For the second year, the federal government is offering up to $1.5M to Pride organizations across the country to fund enhanced security measures, amid a continued rise in anti-LGBTQ2S+ hate.
Here's how far B.C. drivers must keep from cyclists, pedestrians under new law
A new law protecting cyclists and pedestrians in British Columbia takes effect Monday, establishing minimum distances that drivers must keep from so-called vulnerable road users.
Prospective jurors in Hunter Biden's firearms case questioned on gun rights, addiction, politics
A federal gun case against U.S. President Joe Biden’s son Hunter opened Monday with jury selection, following the collapse of a plea deal that would have avoided the spectacle of a trial so close the 2024 election.
AFN national chief blasts governments' inaction on fifth anniversary of MMIWG report
On the fifth anniversary of a national inquiry's report into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is blasting all levels of government for what she calls slow progress to stop the crisis.
B.C. school district apologizes for asking students 'Should Israel exist?'
The Burnaby School District superintendent has issued an apology and launched an investigation after a Grade 6/7 class was presented with a question regarding the existence of Israel.
Toyota apologizes for cheating on vehicle testing and halts production of three models
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologized Monday for massive cheating on certification tests for seven vehicle models as the automaker suspended production of three of them.