Effective Monday (Aug. 24), Parkland College will require all students, staff and visitors at all campuses and training sites to wear a mask.

Only for the transition week of August 24-28 will disposable masks be available for students, if required.

President and CEO of Parkland College and Cumberland Colleges, Mark Hoddenbagh says they want students to bring their own masks.

“They know where it comes from, where its been and they can keep it clean themselves,” Hoddenbagh said. “It helps them develop that responsibility of looking after their own health to a certain extent.”

Masks will be mandatory in hallways, bathrooms, common areas and any space where physical distancing of two metres cannot be maintained, especially during labs, shop time or receiving or providing instruction.

However, Hoddenbagh says there will be instances where wearing it wouldn’t be necessary.

“For instance, in your office, you can take your mask off or in the classroom – all of our desks are physically distanced from one another, and so in that scenario potentially students could remove their mask while at their desk. Once they get up and start walking around they have to put it back on again.” he explained.

In a news release, Parkland College says they are following all public health guidelines as set out by Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer.