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By the end of June, both Canadore College and Nipissing University will have paused their mask mandates.
The North Bay post-secondary institutions, neighbours at the shared Education Centre, will follow the guidance of local and provincial health authorities when it comes to masks. In the wake of its convocation ceremonies, Nipissing paused its mandate, as of June 20. Canadore will wait until June 30 to follow suit. Guidance from health authorities will continue to guide any further measures in Ontario universities and colleges as the fall semester nears.
Despite this, both schools continue to strongly encourage members of their campus communities to wear a mask when indoors or in close proximity to others even after the mask mandate has been paused, although it is not required. Both Canadore and Nipissing will continue to provide free face masks for those who wish to wear them. Masks will be available at the main entrances of each campus.
Both schools ask that employees and students respect individual preferences to mask. Nipissing points to its Respectful Workplace & Learning Environments Policy with a reminder that it applies to all members of the University community: "We all have a shared responsibility for fostering a positive campus environment."
As the 2021 fall semester neared, the Chief Medical Officer of Health issued instructions requiring every post-secondary institution to establish, implement and ensure compliance with a mandatory vaccination policy.
In March, following guidance from the Council of Ontario Universities, all of the province's institutions, including Nipissing, maintained COVID-19 vaccination and masking policies until at least the end of the winter term, as did Canadore College.
As of April 22, the last day of the winter semester, Canadore's vaccination policy expired. On May 1, Nipissing paused its COVID-19 vaccination policy requiring faculty, staff, students, contractors, volunteers and visitors who attend campus to provide proof of full vaccination against the virus to gain access.
At the time, Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health stated these health and safety decisions should be made by the institutions themselves. In response, all colleges and universities in Ontario kept vaccination requirements and masking policies in effect until (at least) April 30, with the local schools later extending the masking policy into June.
