There are no provincewide COVID-19 restrictions on travel, gatherings, and events. Individual businesses and event organizers can choose to continue requiring masks on their premises.
Read all province-wide protocols
British Columbia’s response to COVID-19
Resources + Information
Communicable Disease Plans + Protocols
As of April 8, 2022 with the expiration of the “Workplace Safety Order – March 10, 2022”, productions are no longer required to develop and implement a COVID-19 Safety Plan. They should instead transition to a communicable disease prevention strategy.
WorkSafeBC offers a template to assist productions in the creation of their communicable disease plan. The communicable disease plan does not need to be reviewed or approved before production can begin, but WorkSafeBC will review the plan as part of their inspection.
Actsafe offers a communicable disease plan template and is available to review and provide feedback of communicable disease plans through their online submission form.
Proof of Vaccination/Face Coverings
Read about and implement the BC Vaccine Check for your business
Learn more about what is required for proof of vaccination and how to get vaccinated
Proof of vaccination for out-of-province and international visitors
Effective March 11, visitors to indoor public spaces are no longer required to wear a face covering per the PHO order “Face Coverings (COVID-19) Order – March 10, 2022”. Individual employers may still require the use of a face covering per “Workplace Safety – March 10, 2022”.
Learn more about where masks are required and who must wear them
Stay current with information coming from the Provincial Health Office and the Provincial Health Officer’s “Orders, Notices and Guidance“.
Stay apprised of changes through the BC Centre for Disease Control Employers & Businesses page.
Safety Guidelines + Pandemic Production Guide
To further support the motion picture industry, the Coalition developed the Pandemic Production Guide. The guide is intended to support the assessment and management of COVID-19 risk in all types of production, and to assist employers in developing their own COVID-19 safety plans across departments.
Together, these assets serve employers of any size to access detailed health and safety protocols, guides, and best practices for motion picture production in British Columbia.
Travel/Immigration
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Recreational travel within B.C. is allowed. This includes travel for: Vacations, weekend getaways and tourism activities; Visiting family or friends for social reasons.
Read all current travel restrictions
When travelling, follow the same public health guidance you use at home to prevent COVID-19, and plan ahead by checking that towns, communities and regions are ready to welcome you.
CANADA
As of September 7, travellers who qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption will be eligible to enter Canada for discretionary purposes. The border remains open to foreign workers with a valid work permit, and travel restrictions are in place across all border crossings.
Find out if you can enter Canada
Determine eligibility for fully vaccinated traveller exemption
FOREIGN WORKERS
The following points outline the current Government of Canada regulations for Foreign Nationals seeking entry into Canada for employment:
- B.C. TRAVELLERS AND EMPLOYERS ORDER: Stay apprised of changes through the “B.C. Travellers and Employers Order” under the Provincial Health Officer’s “Orders, Notices and Guidance“.
- VALID WORK PERMITS: Provided that they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and that all other immigration admissibility criteria are met, travelers with valid or approved work permits will be permitted to travel (See links below for supporting documentation). The type of work that is being done in Canada is not relevant for the purpose of determining whether travel is discretionary or non-discretionary. The CBSA has taken steps to ensure that this misconception is dispelled at the ports of entry. Click here for measures in place for foreign nationals in the film and television industry
NEW! Effective April 1, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to provide a pre-entry test to enter Canada. Read the news release for more information.
Prior to April 1, the following entry requirements are still in place:
- COVID-19 TESTING FOR TRAVEL: Effective January 6, 2021, all travellers five years of age or older are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or LAMP test result to their airline prior to boarding international flights to Canada or to border agents at land crossing. Learn more about testing requirements for entering Canada.
AIR TRAVEL: The test must be conducted within 72 hours of the traveller’s scheduled departure to Canada and must be presented at the time of boarding.
DRIVING: The test must be conducted within 72 hours of arrival at a land border and must be presented at the time of crossing.
- ARRIVAL IN CANADA PROCEDURES – VACCINATED TRAVELLERS
As of July 5th, 2021, fully vaccinated travellers who meet specific conditions and are permitted to enter Canada will not be subject to the federal requirement to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test on day-8.
Determine eligibility for exemption as a fully vaccinated traveller
To prepare for arrival in Canada, fully vaccinated travellers should ensure they meet all eligibility requirements and familiarize themselves with requirements for before travel, at the border, and after arrival.
COVID-19: Entering Canada requirements checklist
- ARRIVAL IN CANADA PROCEDURES – UNVACCINATED OR PARTIALLY VACCINATED TRAVELLERS
To prepare for arrival in Canada, all travellers should familiarize themselves with the requirements for before travel, at the border, and after arrival in Canada.
COVID-19: Entering Canada requirements checklist
14-DAY QUARANTINE AFTER ARRIVAL PROCEDURES: In accordance with the existing federal order by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), all travellers, unless exempted, must quarantine for 14 days upon entering Canada (in this case British Columbia) and will need to complete the federal ArriveCAN application for approval prior to their return to B.C., or upon arrival. Supporting tools:
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) Travel Planning
- Government of Canada requirements for quarantine and self-isolation
- Province of BC webpage about Travel and COVID-19
Testing
In a letter to industries, Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed routine testing of asymptomatic people is not currently recommended in B.C.
Employers who wish to implement screening and private testing measures – understanding that there are limitations to this approach as per the letter – must comply with the B.C. legal frameworks, (including but not limited to B.C human rights, employment standards, applicable collective agreements, privacy law, and existing and future Provincial Health Officer orders, notices, and guidance).
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control offers all information on B.C.’s approach to testing. For more information about testing in B.C., please reach out to the Film Commission.
The following organizations are available to provide production-specific private testing resources. Creative BC does not endorse or vet organizations included on the list. Productions wishing to engage with private testing organizations should do so in line with PHO guidelines per the letter to industries above.
Airwolf Medical – Renata Lewis
info@airwolfmedical.com | (604) 905-8775
Align Production Health & Strategic Consulting Inc. – Emily O’Loughlin
emily@alignproductionhealth.com | (604) 783-1253
Aspen Care Health – Shelley McLellan (LPN)
info@aspencarehealth.com | (403) 990-3837
Bon Voyage Medical
ivy@bonvoyagemedical.com| (604) 447-8597
CVM Medical – Raffy Karagossian
help@covid-medical.ca | (604) 332-7700
Eco Health – Andrew Rowntree
(250) 419-8344
Empower Clinics – Tamara Mason
info@empowerclinics.com | (416) 671-5617
Fast Test– Michael Gracias
info@fast-test.ca | (778) 636-5502
Feature Health & Safety – Alasdair Drinnan
info@featureHS.com | (250) 764-3712
First Wellness Testing
covid19@firstwellnesstesting.com | (416) 640-7480
International SOS – Carmen Jeam
carmen.jeam@internationalsos.com | (403) 263-1118
Iridia Medical
covidsupport@iridiamedical.com
Mobile Lab – ReelCovidTesting – Sage Rich
reelcovidtesting@gmail.com | (778) 816-0025
Reel Nurses
info@reelnurses.com | (604) 414-9805
Resolve Medical – Krysta VH
krystavh@resolvemedical.ca | 1-855-578-9906 Ext. 388
Rockdoc Consulting – Andrew Durham
info@rockdocinc.com | 1-888-761-4001
Screenpro Security – Lena Kozovski
lena@screenprosecurity.com | (647) 878-6674
Whitecap Risk & Safety Consultants
info@whitecaprsc.com | (604) 966-3777
If your organization provides COVID-19 private testing for the motion picture industry and would like to be added to our website, please email the Film Commission.
Film Permits
For filming in B.C.’s regions, start by contacting the knowledgeable staff at the regional film commission that oversees the area. Regional film commissions know their territories, can help navigate communication pathways, and provide valuable insight into which communities are ready to go and those that are more sensitive to incoming productions during this time.
Questions or Concerns About Filming
Individual productions will develop their own best practices related to filming on location. Questions or concerns about filming on location should be directed to the production, who will have representatives on site. Contact information for individual productions can also be found on the Creative BC In Production list. If the production is unavailable, please contact the local municipal film office.
Resources
General Resources
ActSafe
AFCI Global Production Alert
BC Centre for Disease Control
Canadia Media Producers Association
Commercial Production Association of Western Canada (CPAWC)
Creative BC COVID-19 Resource Index
Government of British Columbia Restart Plan
Labour Organizations
MPPIA Townhall links
Office of the Provincial Health Officer
Public Health Agency of Canada
World Health Organization
COVID-19 Courses:
Actsafe COVID-19 Safety Procedures Course
Safe Set COVID-19 Certificate (Levels A + B)
World Health Organization COVID-19 Training
COVID-19 Consultation:
Align Production Health & Strategic Consulting Inc. | Emily O’Loughlin
emily@alignproductionhealth.com | (604) 783-1253
Bon Voyage Medical
partnerships@bonvoyagemedical.com | (604) 447-8597
Fast Test – Michael Gracias
info@fast-test.ca | (778) 636-5502
Feature Health & Safety | Alasdair Drinnan
info@featureHS.com | (250) 764-3712
The Harwood Safety Group
(778) 689-2644
International SOS | Carmen Jeam
carmen.jeam@internationalsos.com | (403) 263-1118
Iridia Medical
covidsupport@iridiamedical.com
Reel Nurses
info@reelnurses.com | (604) 414-9805
Whitecap Risk & Safety Consultants
info@whitecaprsc.com | (604) 966-3777
COVID-19 Private Testing:
The following organizations are available to provide production-specific private testing resources. Creative BC does not endorse or vet organizations included on the list. Productions wishing to engage with private testing organizations should do so in line with PHO guidelines.
Airwolf Medical – Renata Lewis
info@airwolfmedical.com | (604) 905-8775
Align Production Health & Strategic Consulting Inc. – Emily O’Loughlin
emily@alignproductionhealth.com | (604) 783-1253
Aspen Care Health – Shelley McLellan (LPN)
info@aspencarehealth.com | (403) 990-3837
Bon Voyage Medical
partnerships@bonvoyagemedical.com | (604) 447-8597
CVM Medical – Raffy Karagossian
help@covid-medical.ca | (604) 332-7700
Eco Health – Andrew Rowntree
(250) 419-8344
Empower Clinics – Tamara Mason
info@empowerclinics.com | (416) 671-5617
Fast Test– Michael Gracias
info@fast-test.ca | (778) 636-5502
Feature Health & Safety – Alasdair Drinnan
info@featureHS.com | (250) 764-3712
First Wellness Testing
covid19@firstwellnesstesting.com | (416) 640-7480
International SOS – Carmen Jeam
carmen.jeam@internationalsos.com | (403) 263-1118
Iridia Medical
covidsupport@iridiamedical.com
ReelCovidTesting – Sage Rich
reelcovidtesting@gmail.com | (778) 816-0025
Reel Nurses
info@reelnurses.com | (604) 414-9805
Resolve Medical – Krysta VH
krystavh@resolvemedical.ca | 1-855-578-9906 Ext. 388
Rockdoc Consulting – Andrew Durham
info@rockdocinc.com | 1-888-761-4001
Screenpro Security – Lena Kozovski
lena@screenprosecurity.com | (647) 878-6674
Whitecap Risk & Safety Consultants
info@whitecaprsc.com | (604) 966-3777
Contact us
For questions or concerns about filming in general in B.C., please contact Industry + Community Affairs at the film commission or call (604) 736-7997.