Safety fears follow Dr. Bonnie Henry, even during Royal Victoria’s run

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When runners crossed the finish line in the Royal Victoria Marathon 8K’s first in-person race since 2019, many were given their names.

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Yet silently cruising without that honor was Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC provincial health officer, even though she finished in the top five in her age category.

Henry wasn’t running alone either, he had a male security officer and a female on his heels.

Given the anti-vaccination crowds in the city center in the days leading up to the race, which long-time Royal Victoria organizer Rob Reid described as more of a mob than protesters, there were concerns for the safety of women who has led the province through COVID-19. pandemic.

“It was nothing formal not to say his name or anything,” Reid said, “but we just wanted to downplay it.”

Announcer Rod McCrimmon said that Henry’s name never appeared on the roll of names that he tries to read as many of as possible, especially the notable ones. “I think it was by design.”

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Jenny Carnie, who ran the race and admits to being in awe of the provincial health officer, took a picture of Henry on her phone. “I saw her come off the field demonstrating the message that she has been sharing with the public: she was wonderfully calm, kind and confident when she crossed the finish line,” Carnie said. “We are very fortunate for his leadership.”

Henry said in a later phone interview that she was delighted to be a part of the race’s return amid vaccinated crowds. The small-scale event had 2,715 people in the half marathon and 1,704 in the 8K. “I really felt that it was a lot of positive energy to be there again. It was great.”

But he acknowledged that rejection of COVID masking and vaccinations has risen to a “worrying” degree since admission to non-essential places like restaurants and gyms has been limited to those showing the BC vaccination card.

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The threats “have been really daunting,” he said.

Critics range from those who think the province should have adopted masking and lockdown mandates sooner, and better prepared for the arrival of the fourth wave and the Delta variant, to those who are so enraged by the masking and vaccine mandates that They have asked that Henry be hanged. or shot.

“It’s a whole new level of concern when people try to dehumanize others and, you know, me, for example,” said Henry, who has a 24-hour security team at work and at home in Victoria.

“It minimizes the really important tragic events that have happened in our history to bring up things like Nazism and it is very worrying that the discourse reaches that level.”

Henry said he finds hope in the silent majority who have been vaccinated (83.9 percent of those 12 and older are fully vaccinated in British Columbia), thus caring for their families, neighbors and community.

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He said he admires Nell Saba, who has taken it upon herself to peacefully hold up her own poster that reads “Vaccines Save Lives, Ignorance Kills” during anti-vaccine protests in the British Columbia legislature. “[She] he just expresses his voice in a very low and calm voice. “

Henry said that threats of violence are not only upsetting her, but also her family, friends and colleagues, adding that there is a sexist element in the vitriol directed at her and her female counterparts, as are threats against her. Saskatchewan’s chief medical officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab is often tinged with racism.

“I was not expecting this level of personal attack and it is discouraging and disturbing, and I think part of that is because I am a woman, and a woman who has a position of authority, which is, I suppose, scary for some people,” she said. Henry.

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Carnie noted that the provincial health official has even been attacked for making decisions about COVID in schools and not having children of her own.

“I don’t think that a man’s domestic life, or the fact that he has had children or not, influences the decisions he makes; She faces a major double standard, but she adapts, she’s tough and she just hangs up, she takes a step forward and just pops up. “

Henry said that despite protests against vaccination, there have been great shocks forever during the pandemic, citing the Black Lives Matter movement and the collective recognition of the trauma of residential schools.

The pandemic has also exposed long-standing inequalities for people working in low-paying jobs and the importance of schools in supporting communities and families, he said.

“I hope we can rebuild in a more just way and acknowledge some of those inequalities,” Henry said.

“I think there are a lot of things we’ve learned that… we need to hold on as we get through this.

“And you know, in part, I hope I don’t need my RCMP officers forever.”

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