As of December 17, Vancouver Coastal Health had ordered the temporary or permanent closure of 58 restaurants in 2012. That’s slightly less than half the number of closures on the regional health authority’s list for 2011.

The only two permanent closures in Vancouver—Le Kiu Poultry at 456 Prior Street and Ernie’s Cozy Kitchen at 165 West Pender Street—occurred because they didn’t have a valid permit. Ernie’s Cozy Kitchen was also cited for pest infestation.

Most of the closures were for five days or less. Two of the longer suspensions in Vancouver involved Taste of Paradise at 1399 Commercial Drive, which was shut down for a week in July for unsanitary conditions, improper food-storage temperatures, and improper dishwashing and glass washing. Dim Sum King at 854 East Cordova Street was closed from July 19 to August 1 for the same reasons, as well as a pest infestation.

Vancouver Coastal Health’s jurisdiction includes Vancouver, Richmond, the North Shore, and the Sunshine Coast. -