Universities requiring masks on campus are in the minority as the fall semester and the prospect of another wave of COVID-19 infections looms.
Despite the lifting of provincial and territorial mask requirements, some post-secondary institutions have decided to keep them for the safety of staff and students.
“Right now, I think there’s still a risk of waves of significant illness, and caution makes sense to me,” said Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alberta, where coverage is encouraged but not required.  in most settings.
Fourteen of 83 universities surveyed by The Canadian Press via email, interviews and online announcements say they will require students and staff to hide in different environments on campus.
Western University in London, Ont., and an affiliated school, Huron University College, were the only ones surveyed that had a vaccine mandate.
“While we cannot predict when the next wave of COVID-19 may come, we believe these measures will help us protect the personal experience that Western is known for,” Western professor Florentine Strzelczyk said in a statement. published in the university.  Website.
At Dalhousie University in Halifax, masks must be worn in classrooms and teaching areas.  They are voluntary in all other indoor spaces such as corridors, libraries and learning commons.  Dalhousie does not have a vaccine requirement.
The Dalhousie Student Union was not part of the decision-making but fully supports the mandate, spokeswoman Janet Bryson said.  The Student Union building is not a teaching area, so a mask is not mandatory there.
“Masks are always recommended and we will continue to recommend wearing masks in our spaces,” Bryson wrote in an email.
Ryan Simmons, a music student at MacEwan University in Edmonton, said he would prefer a vaccine mandate over masks. 
“It’s a higher education setting, so I hope most people in the school are smart enough to get their booster shots,” said Simmons, whose COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date. 
Simmons said universities should send notices to students encouraging them to take their boosters.  As for the mask requirements, Simmons said, “I’m fine with anything. As long as I get to be in school, I’m a happy guy.”
MacEwan University announced that it will continue to encourage vaccination and masks, but will not make either mandatory for the fall semester.
Cleome Wilkinson, a geography student at the University of Victoria, said she would still be wearing a mask in September.  Victoria University does not have a mask or vaccine mandate for fall 2022.
“The disability community has been quite vocal about the mask in intimate and indoor spaces making their lives easier and more comfortable,” Wilkinson said.  “That’s something that’s important to me.”
The University of Manitoba is maintaining its indoor mask mandate until further notice.
Dr. Mark Torchia, head of the academic team at the University of Manitoba, said mask mandates are more effective than vaccinations against the Omicron variant.  As cases of COVID-19 increase in Manitoba, Torchia said it made sense for the school of about 40,000 staff, faculty and students to require a mask.
Of the students’ response, Torchia said, “I’ve heard from both sides, but mostly positive.”
Julie Lajoie, a research associate at the University of Manitoba said she is relieved the university is maintaining its mask mandate.
 “The University of Manitoba really follows science.”
The University of Alberta said in a statement that “high-quality masks are still encouraged on U of A campuses in high-traffic or high-capacity indoor areas or when accessing public or shared transportation.  Masks will be required in certain specific situations, such as clinical settings with Alberta Health Services coverage requirements.”
Student Union President Abner Monteiro said his group was not involved in the decision-making.
“Overall, students haven’t really signaled one way or the other that they need a mask mandate to feel comfortable on campus,” he said.
“What we want to see and ensure in the student union is to have a proactive, proactive and planned approach from the university so that students have predictability first and foremost this year.”
Universities offering medical education still have mask policies in clinical settings, as recommended by public health officials.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on August 24, 2022.
— With files from Steve Lambert in Winnipeg and Jordan Omstead in Toronto
This story was produced with financial assistance from Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.