There was an air of resignation Tuesday as bars, nightclubs, gyms and dance studios learned they will be closed for the next month as the province deals with the latest wave of the pandemic, fuelled by the Omicron variant.
Quincy Leachman, manager of the Duke Saloon, had been bracing for new restrictions for the last week. “I kind of figured that we would be the first thing to shut down. It doesn’t make it any easier, but for me and my staff, I know our concern is always the community — if people are getting sick and the hospitals are getting overwhelmed, we’re always willing to step up and take one on the chin.”
Leachman said businesses that rely on packing people in, dancing and a festive atmosphere have been bleeding money. “It’s going to hit a point where it’s untenable pretty soon.”
The closure is expected to affect 30 staff at the Duke Saloon.
The province has said some financial supports will be in place this week, but it’s not clear if any will support workers who may not qualify for federal programs due to the number of hours they have been working.
The Duke did not open Tuesday night and staff are currently cleaning the bar out for what Leachman hopes is just a “mini hibernation.”
Grant Olson, owner of the Strathcona Hotel, home to the Sticky Wicket Pub and venues like Big Bad John’s, the Rooftop, Games Room and Distrikt night club, is taking the latest round of restrictions in stride.
“It’s not the first wave, and not wildly different from how we are currently operating,” he said, noting there may be some changes to ensure social distancing and tables will be limited to six people.
The one Strathcona venue that would have been shut down entirely by the new restrictions, Distrikt nightclub, is already closed for renovations.
“It was never going to open during COVID unless we changed it,” he said, noting the plan is to convert it to become an extension of the Sticky Wicket and perhaps open in late winter or early spring.
“The one benefit of COVID is when you can’t open or you get shut down, you can fix all the things we could never get to,” he said. “There’s this optimism that there are better days to come, so we think we might as well set ourselves up for success, if we ever get there.”
B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association chief executive Ian Tostenson said the measures introduced Tuesday are a good compromise, noting last year, bars and restaurants were given less than 24 hours notice that they would be closed at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. “We have the opportunity to operate normal hours, and I think that’s fair considering the mess we are in with this variant.”
While many dance studios in the region had already closed until early January, staff at a couple of Victoria-area gyms were busy telling clients they would be closed after Tuesday.
Some said they were waiting for the final word from head offices on how exactly they would be affected, but they did expect to comply with the health orders.
In a statement on its website, the YMCA/YWCA of Vancouver Island said its downtown and Westhills locations would be closed until Jan. 18.
Annual pass holders were told their membership expiry dates will be extended by the total number of days the Y is closed, while continuous monthly memberships were renewed and charged fees up to and including Dec. 21.
Members will not be charged a fee until the Y is able to reopen.
The City of Victoria is working on details of what will happen at Crystal Pool and what, if any part of it might remain open, while Esquimalt is doing the same for the Esquimalt Recreation Centre.
Some of those walking or running along the pathway along the Gorge Waterway on Tuesday were surprised by the new restrictions.
Sara Leschasin, 34, of Vancouver was in Victoria visiting her brother, along with her parents, Rod and Joy Leschasin of Winnipeg. She said she had just been getting back to a routine of working out on a StairMaster at Goodlife Fitness. “It’s what I need to keep my sanity.”
Alex Gibson, 40, was out walking with her mother, Anne Gibson, 67, and son, Nathan, 11 months, and said the family had been planning a party for Nathan’s first birthday next month, but will now have to cancel it.
“We were all wearing masks when Nathan was born and he has seen us wear them his whole life,” she said. “The main things we will miss are the programs that allow Nathan to socialize with other children his age.”
John Costa, 62, who was walking with his wife along the pathway, said he’s been expecting new restrictions, and already cancelled plans to go to Vegas in January. “Even before the announcement, we were already leery about going back to the gym.”
Roy McGregor said the new orders won’t affect him much. “I plan to just stay within my bubble. I believe that to shut the virus down, we need to vaccinate the rest of the world.”
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