MEMO: Mandatory Vaccination Policy

To: All Employees, Contractors, Volunteers, Students

From: Senior Management

Date: October 12, 2021

1. PURPOSE
Tikinagan Child & Family Services (“Tikinagan”) is committed to providing a safe working environment for all its employees, contractors, volunteers, and students (the “Affected Individuals”), as well as all clients and members of the public they interact with.

The Mandatory Vaccination Policy (the “Policy”) describes Tikinagan’s expectations and requirements with respect to all Affected Individuals being fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

The Policy is part of Tikinagan’s comprehensive and evolving response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and an important part of being prepared to safely resume more normal service methods in the future.

As new information becomes available the Policy may be amended as needed, and as required to comply with any directives of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

Thank you for your continuing support and cooperation in these challenging times.

2. POLICY

A. Effective Date

The Policy is effective immediately, however Affected Individuals will be provided reasonable time to become fully vaccinated (see below).

B. Mandatory Vaccination

It is mandatory for all Affected Individuals to be fully vaccinated, and to provide Tikinagan with verification of being fully vaccinated no later than October 31, 2021.

Being fully vaccinated means providing documentation evidencing full vaccination against COVID-19 with vaccines as approved by Health Canada and/or the World Health Organization (WHO). Also, having received the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to submitting the documentation.

Submit your vaccination verification to this confidential email: vaccination@tikinagan.org.

Extensions to become fully vaccinated may be granted in exceptional circumstances. Any Affected Individual seeking an extension must submit their request, and the reasons for the request, in writing to Sarah Morin, Human Resources Manager (see contact information below) or Tannis Favot, Human Resources Supervisor (see contact information below), at the earliest opportunity, and in any event no later than October 22, 2021.

C. Accommodation and Testing

Affected Individuals not able to be vaccinated for verified medical or religious reasons will be considered for accommodation in accordance with, and to the extent provided for under, the provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code (the “Code”). Verification of these reasons will be required, as determined by Tikinagan, in accordance with the provisions of the Code. Accommodation, if offered, may be conditional upon the Affected Individual submitting to Covid-19 testing, and demonstrating a negative result, a minimum of once per seven days.

Employees choosing not to be vaccinated may be considered for accommodation. Whether accommodation is offered will be determined solely by Tikinagan. Accommodation, if offered, may be conditional upon the Affected Individual submitting to Covid-19 testing, and demonstrating a negative result, a minimum of once per seven days.

Affected Individuals subject to testing must arrange for and/or perform their testing appointment outside of their scheduled work hours, and all testing will be at the expense of the individual.

All Affected Individuals requesting accommodation should submit their request in writing to Sarah Morin, Human Resources Manager (see contact information below) or Tannis Favot, Human Resources Supervisor (see contact information below), at the earliest opportunity, and in any event prior to October 22, 2021. For those requesting accommodation for verified medical or religious reasons the request should include supporting written verification.

D. Education

All Affected Individuals who are not fully vaccinated, except those with a verified medical or religious reason, will be required to complete a Covid-19 educational session. This session will include how COVID-19 vaccines work; vaccine safety related to the development of the COVID-19 vaccines; the benefits of vaccination against COVID-19; risks of not being vaccinated against COVID-19; and, possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccination. Individuals required to complete this session must do so outside of their regular working hours.

3. ONGOING HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES

All Affected Individuals, no matter what their vaccination status, must continue to use personal protective equipment and abide by the Pandemic Measures in the Workplace Protocol (COVID-19 Safety Plan) and the Services Contingency Plan. This includes complying with infection prevention practices, such as handwashing and sanitizing, and immediately informing their supervisor if they experience any symptoms related to COVID-19.

4. CONFIDENTIALITY

All information relating to an individual’s vaccination status, request for and verification of a request for accommodation, request and reasons for an extension to become fully vaccinated, and Covid-19 test results, will be held by Tikinagan in strict confidence. This information will only be disclosed to those Tikinagan personnel who reasonably require disclosure of the information in the implementation of the Policy, and only to the extent reasonably necessary to do so.

5. CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS

For any questions regarding the Policy please contact:

SARAH MORIN, Human Resources Manager
sarahm@tikinagan.org
P: 807 737 7400 x 2306
C: 807 737 9188

TANNIS FAVOT, Human Resources Supervisor
tannisf@tikinagan.org
P: 807 737 7400 x 2232
C: 807 738 5027