Au Chateau Backs Down; Only 2021 Shots Will Remain Mandatory

Director accuses Board Chair of spreading "false information".

After I reported that Au Chateau was going to be mandating the XBB Covid Booster shot for all it’s staff this fall, they appear to have backed down.

On Friday, I had shared emails between Board Chair, Daniel Gagne, Director Jacques Dupuis and other board members stating that employees would be required to get the latest booster by late fall. This would simply be in accordance with the staff COVID policy which requires them all to be “up to date”. The latest directives seemed to explain the Director’s insistence a few months ago to keep the staff COVID policy in place indefinitely in order to be able to force future shots.

But after public pressure, the Director of the home sent out a shocking emergency email to all staff this weekend. In his message, Jacques Dupuis stated that some people (assuming his Board Chair Daniel Gagne) were sharing misleading information. He told staff that Gagne had spread false information when he advised board members that the shot would be forced.

Earlier this year Mayor Kathleen Thorne-Rochon removed the previous board chair because she “jeopardized the relationship with Au Château’s administration”. This forced the board to choose a third chair in three months. Many are wondering if this latest conflict will result in a 4th chair in less than a year.

Policy Will Continue To Be Enforced Despite Mounting Confusion

While many employees were relieved by the announcement this weekend. Many are still left confused by the staff COVID policy. As I stated last week, Au Chateau is one of the few remaining organizations that still require new hires to have “up to date” COVID vaccinations. In a report presented to the board this week, Au Chateau announced they had hired 8 people in the last quarter and all had their “immunization status verified”. The current job postings all state that COVID vaccination is a condition of employment.

When I pressed Gagne last week as to what I needed to satisfy his vaccination requirements and attend board meetings, he stated that I needed “basically 2 doses and 1 booster" from 2021 or 2022… But after consulting the Health Unit’s vaccine specialist, she confirmed that the original 2 doses are no longer available and that unvaccinated adults are now only suggested to get a single XBB shot.

Dupuis has stated that at least 7 employees are still off work because of the vaccine rules at Au Chateau. But according to the recent emails from the organization, it is impossible for them to satisfy these rules and get their job back.

The Director has stated that new shots will not be forced but he and the board have no intention of revoking their policy requiring new staff (and meeting attendees) to have the 2021 shots.

In October 2023, the expert consensus is that the 2021 shots do not offer any protection whatsoever (as any immunity received has waned). But health authorities claim that the latest booster is effective in 2023.

In the absurd world we live in, Au Chateau won’t let staff and board members in the building unless they have the 2021 (useless) shots which they cannot obtain anymore, but does not require the latest (apparently useful) shot…

The West Nip Voice is a regular newsletter covering issues in West Nipissing and the surrounding area. Please consider becoming a subscriber.