Ottawa BlackJacks request fully-vaccinated healthcare workers be allowed at home games

By Mike Vlasveld

Ottawa's professional basketball team wants to see a few hundred local healthcare workers at its first homes games of the 2021 season, but it hasn't heard back from the province about whether or not it will be allowed.

The Canadian Elite Basketball League's (CEBL) Ottawa BlackJacks say a precedent was set when the Government of Ontario allowed 500 healthcare workers, fully vaccinated against COVID-19, to attend a Toronto Maple Leafs playoff game in late May. 

The team wrote to Ontario's premier and Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries Lisa MacLeod earlier this month, requesting 300 fully-vaccinated healthcare employees be allowed to attend it's first few games at TD Place, and was hoping to have a response by June 10.

The team says June 18 is the last chance to get an answer from the government in order to have enough time to plan ahead of its home opener on June 24.

The BlackJacks say the idea has been endorsed by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, and it's asked provincial government officials twice with no response.

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