Au Chateau Revokes Vaccination Policy

ALL caregivers and visitors can now enter after being denied entry for 13 months.

Today the board of management for Au Chateau held a special meeting to discuss the organization’s visitation policy. At their last meeting on January 18th, three board members wanted the home’s visitation policy to be modified. They wanted to follow other LTC homes and allow all visitors to enter regardless of how many COVID shots they have taken. 

This resolution was proposed by Councillor Anne Tessier who stressed that the COVID vaccines don’t stop spread and that the majority of other settings have eliminated these types of rules. She received the support of fellow Councillor Fern Pellerin and provincial appointee Catherine Neddow. Unfortunately her resolution did not pass because Councillor Jamie Restoule, Mayor Kathleen Thorne-Rochon and board Chair, Ron Demers voted against it. 

This prompted a growing group of peaceful demonstrators to protest outside Au Chateau for two weeks now. This past Tuesday, the group made their concerns clear. They wanted the board to hold a special meeting and let them in. 

Thankfully, the board listened and decided to hold that meeting this morning. 

The only item on the agenda was a new revised visitation policy drafted by staff exactly as Councillor Anne Tessier had proposed 9 days ago. All other rules and restrictions affecting visitation and home access would stay the same. But the home’s visitation policy would simply now eliminate any reference to COVID vaccination or number of doses. This new policy would pave the way to allow caregivers and all visitors access to their loved-ones homes after a 13 month absence. 

This time the resolution passed. 5-1. 

Mayor Thorne-Rochon is the Lone Dissenting Vote

The only dissenting board member was Mayor Kathleen Thorne-Rochon. 

Once again she did not provide any rationale or justification for wanting to prevent these essential caregivers from entering. But she specifically stated that:

“I am not a big fan of revising policy just due to political pressure.”

Likely referencing the ongoing peaceful demonstrations occurring over the last two weeks. Thorne-Rochon also mentioned that she thinks all policy changes should be done under the advice and direction of staff and administrator. We must only assume that she did not know that the revised policy today was entirely drafted by staff and administration. 

Thorne-Rochon has particularly taken a lot of criticism on this policy. Almost all the caregivers have reached out to Thorne-Rochon over the last two weeks to understand her point of view or reasoning for this policy and not one has received a call back, reply or answer. This has obviously left many protesters particularly upset with this new mayor.

Reuniting Families

I got the great opportunity to share the amazing news today to the affected caregivers. They accepted the news with so much joy and happiness. Jamie-Lee can’t wait to finally see Jennifer’s room after over a year. Lise can’t wait to go have dinner with her mom. 

They are all so grateful for all the community support they received and for the board members that listened to them.