COVID-19 capacity increases at B.C. venues, but some small businesses still at disadvantage
Fresh off a victory that spoiled the Seattle Kraken’s first ever home game at a sold out arena in Seattle, the Vancouver Canucks will welcome fans back into their own building of Rogers Arena on Tuesday.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has lifted COVID-19 capacity restrictions just in time for the game, and with only a handful of tickets still available, it could also be a sellout.
“This is obviously pre-ordained,” said Mo Tarmohamed, owner of the Rickshaw Theatre on East Hastings Street.
He doesn’t think it’s a coincidence that capacity limits have been lifted just in time for hockey season.
“It kind of shows that live music and the arts sort of play second fiddle to big corporations and the mega-bucks of hockey," he said.
But he’s still grateful his own small business, restricted to 50 per cent until now, will be able to increase capacity as well, but it won’t be to 100 per cent like the Canucks.
“It’s full capacity based on how many seats you can have. So, in our case, we are a 500-person capacity room but I can’t have 500 people in here,” Tarmohamed said. “Because when you put seats on the floor, it takes up real estate, so I can only effectively do 400.”
Pre-pandemic, the Rickshaw would host about 175 events per year – everything from punk concerts to wrestling shows.
Tarmohamed estimates the 100 people he will have to turn away will cost him about $2,000 to $4,000 per event.
“One thing that is undeniable is that the hospitality industry has borne the brunt of public health protocols throughout this pandemic. And that’s been true for the past two years,” said Jeff Guignard, of the BC Alliance of Beverage Licensees, who says he understands the financial stresses many small hospitality businesses are under.
But he is urging patience, saying he advocates on their behalf during weekly meetings with provincial health officials – and he expects more re-opening steps to be taken soon.
It’s not clear exactly when, but that could include loosening the requirement for every patron to have an assigned seat, and even allowing dancing again.
Of course, that is all dependant on active case numbers, hospitalizations and vaccination rates in each region of the province.
“I think the important thing to remember is this is not the last step. This is just a step on the way where we get to,” Guignard said. “What some businesses want to get back to -- concerts, theatres and nightclubs -- we will get there but it’s just going to take a little bit longer before we can.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.