Vandals smash window at North Vancouver COVID-19 vaccination clinic

Vandals smashed a window at the Lloyd Avenue COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinic site in North Vancouver overnight, police have confirmed.

North Vancouver RCMP received a report of the damage Wednesday morning, said Sgt. Peter Devries, spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP.

Unconfirmed reports stated that a brick or rock was thrown through a window of the clinic.

DeVries said police don’t yet know if the vandalism was motivated by any anti-vaccination feelings or other political beliefs connected to the pandemic. But he added the vandalism was concerning.

“Although it might seem relatively minor, the context of the pandemic and the fact that it's an important facility right now means that we take this investigation very seriously,” he said.

Police will be seeking out any surveillance video footage from nearby businesses that may have captured suspicious behaviour. Anyone who has information connected to the vandalism is also encouraged to contact the North Vancouver RCMP, said DeVries.

Last month, Vancouver Coastal Health reported staff at the North Vancouver testing site had faced increasing harassment by the public, as people became frustrated by long waits and lack of available testing.

Both on-site security and police have been called on occasion to help with threats to staff, according to VCH.

That behaviour has caused “significant distress” to staff, according to VCH.

Vancouver Coastal Health issued a statement Wednesday saying the health authority was cooperating with police and site security to investigate the incident. The health authority said the vandalism caused minimal disruption and all vaccination appointments were being honoured. COVID testing was not impacted by the incident.

North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma said Wednesday she’s noticed “a growing impatience with the pandemic” in the comments she’s received from the community.

Living in a public state of emergency for the better part of two years has been wearing for people, said Ma. “People are grappling with all the ways that the pandemic has changed their lives,” she said, adding the mail she’s received indicates “there’s a broad range of opinions on the best way forward.”

Ma said she’s heard about “deepening tensions between neighbours, friends and family members” as well as from many people who are opposed to the vaccine card requirement in many settings.

Ma said she stands behind the decision of Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s health officer, to extend the vaccine passport, but added, “I understand why people would rather see its use concluded.”