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
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.