The National accessArts Centre has decided to request proof of vaccination to make sure that we can provide as safe a space as possible for our employees and artists. Science shows that vaccines are the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID19. Given the continuance of the COVID19 pandemic, the serious health risks it poses and how contagious it is, the National accessArts Centre is committed to doing its part to support the health and wellness of our community.

Employees and registered artists are required to show proof of vaccinations or proof of being medically exempt. All other individuals, such as support workers, Access drivers, volunteers, contractors, etc. must be able to show proof of vaccinations in order to enter.

Medically exempt employees and artists are able to attend our facility as long as they have provided the required certified documentation of their medical exemption and agree to a rapid test for each entry. Artists are encouraged to arrive 20-30 minutes prior to the start of their session as rapid test results take up to 15 minutes.

If you are a medically exempt employee or registered artist, you will be required to undergo a rapid test upon each entry. If your rapid test is negative, you may enter our facility. If your rapid test is positive, you must be able to leave the facility immediately and are advised to contact Alberta Health Service for further guidance. Medically exempt registered artists are advised to have a ride home immediately available to them in the case of a positive rapid test result. Those with a positive rapid test will be not be able to return to our facility for at least 14 days following their rapid test.

Rapid tests will only be offered to employees and registered artists. All other individuals must be able to show proof of vaccination in order to enter our facility.

As per the legal requirements of conducting rapid tests we are required to share all rapid test information, both negative and positive, with Alberta Health Services and the government of Alberta.

Only vaccinated individuals or medically exempt employees and artists will be able to enter our facility.

Proof comes in different forms. We will accept the following as proof of your vaccinations:

1. You may show us original copies of your paperwork that you received from the nurse or pharmacist when you received your vaccinations (please do not send us images or photocopies as we must view the original paperwork).
2. You may show us your records on the My Health app on your smartphone.
3. You may show us any form of government-issued proof of vaccination, such as the new convenience card, along with a government-issued picture ID.

PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL US PICTURES OF YOUR VACCINATION PROOF.

Proof of vaccinations is any documentation issued by the government, Alberta Health Services, a pharmacy, or your doctor that indicates you have received your COVID 19 vaccinations.

Please bring your vaccination proof or proof of medical exemption in-person with you the next time you come to the centre. Please remember that we must see the following proof by these dates:

• Proof of medical exemption or first vaccination by September 30, 2021
• Proof of second vaccination by October 31, 2021

We will accept a letter from your doctor that indicates you are not able to receive any COVID vaccinations due to medical reasons. We will require you to show us, in-person, the original letter. The letter must be on your doctor’s letterhead and must be signed by your doctor. If this information is available in your health records and can be displayed on your My Health app on your smart phone, we will accept that also.

No. Our policy requires us to physically see the original documentation. We are not storing any details of your records, only whether or not you have been vaccinated. Please do not send us pictures of your proof or medical exemptions.

Registered artists: We will not store the details of your vaccination information. Instead, we will simply mark your profile in our secure database as “proof of vaccination show” or “medically exempt”. Our staff will be able to see this information but it will not be shared with any parties outside of the National accessArts Centre. This means that you only have to show us your proof once.

Employees: We will not store the details of your vaccination information. Instead, we will simply mark your profile in our secure database as “proof of vaccination show” or “medically exempt”. Only authorized HR personnel will be able to see this information and it will not be shared with anyone except other authorized NaAC management on a ‘need to know’ basis as it pertains to your employment.

Support workers, Access drivers, volunteers, contractors, practicums, etc.: If we can expect you to attend our facility on a somewhat regular basis, we will enter your name in a secure database and simply indicate if you are authorized to enter or not. If your name is not on our list but you are able to show acceptable proof of vaccinations upon arrival, you will be able to enter.

In order to keep our facility as safe as possible, you will be unable to enter after September 30 if you have not yet provided proof of your first vaccination. You may enter if you are able to provide proof of both vaccinations by October 31. If you receive your vaccinations after October 31, you may enter two weeks after your second vaccination as long as you provide acceptable proof of both vaccinations.

Please note that in-person sessions are limited in size. If you are unable to provide the required proof by the required dates, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to attend in person at all. You may be able to attend our remote Zoom sessions instead.

In order to keep our facility as safe as possible, you will be unable to enter after October 31 if you have not yet provided proof of both vaccinations. If you receive your vaccinations after October 31, you may enter two weeks after your second vaccination as long as you provide acceptable proof of both vaccinations.

Please note that in-person sessions are limited in size. If you are unable to provide the required proof by the required dates, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to attend in person at all. You may be able to attend our remote Zoom sessions instead.

Trained NaAC employees will use a Health Canada approved Rapid Point of Care Test (POCT) to screen asymptomatic and medically exempt employees and registered artists for potential COVID19 infection. While these tests are not considered 100% conclusive and a negative rapid test does not guarantee the absence of COVID infection. They will, however, help us to further prevent the spread of COVID19 without excluding those employees and artists who cannot receive the vaccinations for medical reasons.

Any individuals with a positive test will be required to leave our facility immediately and seek assistance from Alberta Health Services.

If your rapid test is positive, you must be able to leave the facility immediately and are advised to contact Alberta Health Service for further guidance. Those with a positive rapid test will not be able to return to our facility for at least 14 days following their rapid test.

As per the legal requirements of conducting rapid tests we are required to share all rapid test information, both negative and positive, with Alberta Health Services and the government of Alberta.

Only individuals who are vaccinated may enter our building. If you are an artist who must attend with a support worker, your support worker must be able to show proof of vaccination or you may not enter the facility. If you are an artist who is simply dropped off or picked up by a support worker, you will be able to enter as long as you have provided proof of vaccinations but your support worker must wait outside. 

No. For those who attend regularly, or somewhat regularly, you are only required to show proof of each vaccination once. For those who are required to enter infrequently, or one time only, you may request we list you in our database or you may show us acceptable proof of vaccination each time you enter.

Only vaccinated or medically exempt artists will be able to attend in-person sessions. Unvaccinated artists or those who do not wish to share proof of vaccinations will be invited to attend our remote Zoom sessions.

Our ultimate goal is to be able to re-open all of our in-person capacity once we are safely able to do so. At this time, the NaAC will continue with its current Zoom and in-person schedules. We will closely monitor the developments of the COVID19 situation and will continue to follow the restrictions and safety protocols put forward by government health authorities. We recommend all artists and their support networks to follow us social media where they can keep abreast of any changes.

Absolutely! That is your choice and one that we respect. If you do not wish to attend in-person, you will be invited to continue attending our Zoom sessions.

Non-vaccinated artists who are not medically exempt will be able to attend our remote Zoom sessions only.

Yes. To view our COVID19 safety protocols click here.

Yes. Only vaccinated individuals or medically exempt employees or artists will be able to enter our facility. If you are vaccinated, you must be able to show proof of vaccinations upon entry. If you are unvaccinated or unable to show proof of vaccination you will not be able to enter.

If you read through our FAQs and still have more questions, please contact Kylie at 403.253.3174 x 0 or email info@accessarts.ca

To download a PDF version of our FAQs, click here.